Thousands of people have descended on northwestern Iowa’s Sioux City for an annual bike ride across the state. The Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa – or RAGBRAI – was expected to draw as many as 30,000 people, including participating bicyclists and their relatives and friends.

The bike ride begins today (Sunday) in Sioux City. The event’s 468-mile route will pass through Storm Lake, Fort Dodge, Eldora, Cedar Falls, Hiawatha and Coralville before wrapping up July 25 in Davenport. With all of those people comes a boost to Iowa’s economy. Erika Newton, executive director of Sioux City’s events facilities department, says RAGBRAI visitors are expected to spend more than $2.5 million while in Sioux City.