Riders ended a weeklong trek across Iowa in Dubuque by taking part in a longtime RAGBRAI tradition: dipping their tires in the Mississippi River to mark the end of the ride.

After 391 miles of cycling across the state, more than a thousand riders completed the 2026 RAGBRAI with the ceremonial gesture. Families and friends waited to see riders cross the finish line, and cyclists also received support from Iowans they had never met along the way.

Cody Chamberlain of the Air Force Cycling Team in Colorado said the experience went beyond the miles on the road.

“Well luckily my team prepped me with a lot of the things, like listen' people are going to be really nice'. They will open up their homes, they'll ask you how you're doing. They'll take care of you and just right there was really, really special. I had a great journey, great adventure. It wasn't necessarily riding, but I got to explore some of the history; some of the other culture in Iowa and I absolutely loved it. Took a bunch of photos with them and just really seeing the Iowa nice and what that absolutely represents,” Chamberlain said.

It has been 16 years since RAGBRAI finished in Dubuque, and city leaders said the event’s impact has been noticed in the community, with residents eager to return the hospitality shown to riders.