One week after organizers of the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa canceled their 2020 event due to the coronavirus pandemic, officials planning RAGBRAI's competing event have done the same.

Citing safety and feasibility concerns, planners of Iowa's Ride announced Monday that this summer's inaugural event has been canceled. Iowa's Ride was scheduled to start in Dubuque July 12 and end in Rock Rapids on July 18, with overnight stops in Monticello, Vinton, Eldora, Clarion, Emmetsburg and Sheldon.

Organizers released the following statement on Iowa's Ride website:

Unfortunately, after evaluating the current situation surrounding Coronavirus (COVID-19) and great concern for the safety of the general public, the townspeople, riders, support drivers, volunteers, the Iowa State Patrol troopers, safety officials and staff, it will not be safe nor feasible to host the inaugural Iowa’s Ride on July 12-18, 2020.

 

In the statement, Iowa's Ride organizers said there were several factors that lead to the cancellation.

Our top priority has always been the safety of everyone that would be involved in the event. We carefully monitored the evolving pandemic and consulted with health and safety officials across the state and country and town leaders to base any decisions. With Governor Reynolds closing all Iowa schools for the year (several were planned to be used for campgrounds) and recommendations to not continue the ride from the various law enforcement agencies, emergency managers, city managers and mayors, county supervisors, local hospital officials and other safety agencies that have been involved with the planning of Iowa’s Ride, we knew the ride could not continue as planned. We do greatly appreciate your patience as we explored all possible options and assessed the health risks and the level of stress the event might place on the local health system and emergency services before taking this course of action.

The deadline for a refund has been pushed back to May 15. For more information on getting a refund, CLICK HERE.

Iowa's Ride organizers made no mention of plans for launching the event in 2021.

Source: Iowa's Ride

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