Photo by Zach Ulin

It was no “Saggy Thursday” as beautiful weather and committed volunteers combined to make 2018 RAGBRAI’s overnight stop in Sigourney a success.

Executive Committee Co-Chair Amber Kephart says there were about 60-65 volunteers that helped make Sigourney’s stop a welcoming and enjoyable experience. They wanted to redeem themselves for the city’s last appearance as an overnight stop in 1995, which involved challenging terrain, heat, humidity, and 35 mile-per-hour headwinds.

Kephart talks about the bicyclists feedback in Sigourney, “It was wonderful, we heard the most positive feedback from them throughout the entire today. We were told from the minute they started rolling in that they knew they were going to have a good time when they came to town. Our community was very welcoming, as soon as they started rolling into Sigourney and throughout the entire day not only was I being told but I was overhearing all of them saying how great our town was and how great our hospitality was. And even as of yesterday I had some cyclists from all over the country that were reaching out expressing how wonderful Sigourney was.”

Visitors were entertained both in the downtown square and the Keokuk County Expo grounds with live bands, kids activities, and beer tents. After six months of planning and stress Kephart says it was all worth it in the end to put Sigourney on the map for visitors to remember and return.