T.J. Juskiewicz was director of the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa until he and his staff resigned from the Des Moines Register, which has operated and marketed the ride since the 1970s.
They immediately launched Iowa’s Ride and scheduled it for the same week and format as RAGBRAI.
The move has divided cyclists and is threatening the future of a cherished state tradition.
Business filings show Juskiewicz and his wife last year formed the Iowa Festivals and Events Association.
That group, which lists Juskiewicz as president, is hosting its first conference this week in Coralville for more than 100 festival planners.
Iowa’s Ride is among the featured vendors.
Juskiewicz and his Iowa’s Ride staff are among the speakers at the conference, which he calls a great “networking opportunity.”
He says the nonprofit hopes to break even on the conference and is temporarily sponsoring Iowa’s Ride until a foundation is set up.
