RAGBRAI 2026 already was challenging, starting with two days of nearly 100-degree heat and thousands of feet of elevation gain as it ascended from the Missouri River valley.
Even the cooler Day 3 on Tuesday, July 21, was a challenge on the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, with a stiff headwind pushing back on the riders during the second half.
But an even bigger challenge lay ahead on Day 5, Thursday, July 23, for a self-selected few.
ear the end of Thursday's 87.1 miles - already the longest of the week - lay the annual Karras Century Loop, an optional chance to turn the day into a more than 100-mile trek. And for those seeking the ultimate feat, the ride organizers had mapped out a second, add-on loop that would bring the day's total for anyone completing it to 160 miles - roughly 250 kilometers in honor of America's 250th birthday year.