WINTERSET, Iowa — On Tuesday, tens of thousands of cyclists coasted from Atlantic to Winterset on the third day of RAGBRAI, stopping in Greenfield, which was hit by a deadly, EF-4 tornado in late May.
The city of Greenfield hosted riders as a meeting town and halfway point in the day – as the city continues to rebuild from the tornado.
“They were originally on the map,” explained RAGBRAI director Matt Phippen when asked about the organization’s thought process to keep Greenfield on the route after May’s storms. “I wanted them on the map. When they said yes, we were all in. I am so happy to see that the people are here, and they’re showing the love for this community.”
Around the town square, bikers packed the area, taking time to relax and check out vendors. Local 5 News was also told that tips raised by vendors in Greenfield will go back into the city to help further rebuild.
Bikers all had to endure the strenuous hills of Adair and Madison County on Tuesday as they climbed over 4,500 feet of elevation in part of the event’s hilliest ride in history.
“The first couple days, it was pretty tough," rider Mike Hennan told Local 5. “The first couple days were only 40 miles. But I can see why, because of the incline and the hills.”
Hennan was riding RAGBRAI this year with his partner, Barb, who is currently on oxygen because she is battling scleroderma, a chronic condition that tightens the skin.
“We decided one last hurrah,” said Barb Hennan. “Let’s see if I can do it with oxygen. So here we are before double lung transplant.”
Barb Hennan had a team of 10 with her to transport oxygen tanks when she needs a replacement to push forward comfortably.
Other riders also took notice of the weather to help push them through the elevated segment on Tuesday.
“You know what was a blessing, is that it’s not too hot,” biker Steven Lawyer said. “You just gotta take ‘em one at a time.”
Cyclists will travel out of Winterset Wednesday morning and end up in Knoxville by the afternoon for the fourth day of RAGBRAI LI.