RAGBRAI riders will experience several new things on their Thursday ride. First off, they'll get their first taste of some hills and elevations. Today's ride will climb over 2,200 feet! It may only be a 54-mile ride, but riders will feel it today! Joining the thousands of bikers making their way to Cresco will be a couple of familiar faces too!

Lance Armstrong, a 7-time winner of the Tour De France before a doping scandal stripped his titles, will ride Iowa roadways again this year. Armstrong has joined RAGBRAI annually for several years. Joining Armstrong will be 7 time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson. Johnson will appear with Armstrong tonight in Cresco but it's not known if he'll ride today's route.

RAGBRAI kicked off Sunday in Orange City and will conclude Saturday in Lansing when riders dip their tires in the Mississippi.

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