Parks and Recreation Director Matt Salvatore said it will "take a village" for Sioux City to host between 40,000 and 50,000 people when RAGBRAI kicks off on July 22.
For the first time in eight years, the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa will begin in Sioux City. Salvatore said 15,000 riders have registered for the event, which ends in Davenport on July 29. Last year's ride took off from Sergeant Bluff.
"They're going back to somewhat of the original route from 50 years ago," Salvatore said. "As the result of it being the 50th anniversary, they're expecting more people on this year's ride. This has got to be up there with any event Sioux City has ever done."