(Des Moines, IA) A former RAGBRAI director is trying to save the world’s longest-running bike ride. Dieter Drake led the race from 2019 to 2022. He started a Facebook page this summer, named “Save RAGBRAI.” Drake says Gannett, the company that owns Ventures Endurance which in turn runs RAGBRAI, is financially suffering. Earlier this month, Gannett suspended the company’s contributions to employees’ 401k plans. That came after the company laid off 400 workers and cut 400 openings. Ventures Endurance says the race isn’t going anywhere. Registration for RAGBRAI 2023 opens on November 15th.
