People from across Iowa will have their eyes on Des Moines this weekend. On Saturday night (1/24), organizers of RAGBRAI - the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa - will announce this year's route.
RAGBRAI will begin on July 19th, somewhere along the western edge of the state, at the Missouri River, and end somewhere on the eastern edge on July 25th at the Mississippi River.
And potential riders aren't the only ones who'll be paying close attention, each year tourism bureaus, chambers of commerce, and other local officials compete for the chance to host RAGBRAI - for the publicity and boost to the local economy it brings.
In recent years, the ride has ended in the Quad Cities or nearby several times - in Clinton in 2012, in Davenport in 2011, in LeClaire in 2008, and in Muscatine in 2006.
The Announcement Party will be held in Des Moines Saturday night, with the official route un-veiling between 9 and 9:30 pm.