’26 Guess the Route Winners

February 13, 2026 3:57 pm | Featured, RAGBRAI, RAGBRAI LIII

Thanks to everyone who participated in the 2026 Guess The Route Contest!

Over 350 entries were received in the 23rd (mostly) annual RAGBRAI Guess the Route Contest to pick the RAGBRAI LIII towns. We were slightly more predictable than usual this year, as SEVEN of you guessed all eight overnight towns. This is no small feat, as there are some “rare” towns this year. For example, we haven’t been to Guthrie Center as an overnight since 1983.

Want to see how your guesses stacked up? See below for our most frequently guessed town analysis. Of the seven people who correctly guessed the route, we randomly selected each podium standing.

Here are this year’s winners:

1st Place: John Cernohous of Bulverde, TX
- Won $100 Gift Card to the RAGBRAI Shop
2nd Place: Brian Reineke of Council Bluffs, IA
- Won $80 Gift Card to the RAGBRAI Shop
3rd Place: Angie Smith of Overland Park, KS
- Won $60 Gift Card to the RAGBRAI Shop

Honorable mentions include Bernard Schwartze, Chad Skinner, Jeff Burchfield, and Ken Reed, in no particular order.

John Cernohous of Bulverde, TX was the big winner. John picked right on all eight towns: Onawa, Harlan, Guthrie Center, Boone, Marshalltown, Independence, Dyersville, and Dubuque! When asked to comment on his big win, John said:

I am grateful for RAGBRAI and the unique opportunity of experiencing Iowa’s beauty from the seat of my bicycle. RAGBRAI LIII marks an extraordinary milestone—my 30th trek across the state.
Over these three decades, I have pedaled over 10,000 miles, conquered countless hills and braved the summer heat and humidity to visit every one of Iowa’s 99 counties. This journey has introduced me to hundreds of communities that truly showcase the very best of what Iowa has to offer.

Thirty treks across the state and visiting all 99 counties is amazing if we don’t say so ourselves – no wonder John knows the state so well. Congrats to him – we’ll see you on the route (and Legacy banner) next year!

Stats

With 123 guesses, Dubuque was our most frequently guessed town this year.
- Interesting note, Dubuque was our most frequently guessed INCORRECT town in 2025. You all knew it was about time!
Riders gravitated toward classic river finish scenarios (Dubuque starred in a lot of guesses) and “big central Iowa” towns (Marshalltown/Boone/Cedar Rapids).
The least guessed correct towns were Guthrie Center and Dyersville, both coming in at 46 guesses apiece.
The most frequently guessed incorrect towns were Council Bluffs (81 guesses), Cedar Rapids (62), and Missouri Valley (60).
The most commonly guessed incorrect route was Council Bluffs, Atlantic, Carroll, Ames, Grinnell, Cedar Rapids, Anamosa, Dubuque (7 guesses) – better luck next year!
Whoever guessed Omaha, NE, and Unionville, MO, we see you! But we’re staying in Iowa this year.