The third annual Kalona Horseshoe Bike Race, part of the Iowa Gravel Series, returns this May, welcoming cyclists from all over the state.

This year’s race will be held on May 9th and begins at the Kalona Historical Village. Race organizers partner with the village to provide for a unique experience. The race goes through Washington County, Johnson County, and Iowa County, as bikers navigate different surfaces, elevation changes, and more. It can either be run as a 50-kilometer or 100-kilometer race, with racers of both lengths finishing their ride back in Kalona. 

Schlabaugh says the city anticipates over 250 participants to compete in this year’s race. He explains that city staff help the race organizers primarily through resources and oversight behind the scenes, “Being able to make sure that the barricades are out, readily accessible, usable, and so forth for their volunteer group. We’ll look at that route within the city limits and make sure that everything’s clean, available, usable, that there’s no things that need to be mitigated prior to using it.”

On the day of the race, the portions of 9th Street and D Avenue and 9th Street and C Avenue will be closed to allow for the Kalona Horseshoe Bike Race to move through the area.