After having to be cancelled for the first time in 2017 due to wintery conditions the day of, the Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay will get a second chance at celebrating the 25th anniversary of the 240-kilometre race.

Registration for the race reached the 1,200 rider capacity in less than four days, race co-ordinator Mike Kramer said this morning in a news release.

Although already having the maximum capacity more than two months away from the race, Kramer said this year’s registration was relatively slower than the snowed out 2017 edition where the race reached the 1,200 capacity in 36 hours.

But with snow and black ice conditions around Haines Junction at the start of the race in mid-June last year, the race had to be cancelled.

The race offers several different categories including two, four and eight-person teams in men’s, women’s and mixed divisions for the relay.

There is also a cateogry for solo riders who wish to test the entire 240-km trek by themselves.

The 2017 race saw a record number of registrants in the solo division with 92.

Even with the capacity reached, the news release said registration for solo riders is still open to give them a bit more time to make this big decision.

The final registration deadline for individual riders is April 13.

The only way to register as a team is to find an already registered team still looking for members to fill out their relay squad.

The release also announced a sounvenir bamboo t-shirt to commemorate the event with a new logo design created by Yukon artist Mark Preston.

There are eight legs in the relay with the final leg a 30.8-kilometre stretch to the finish in Haines, Alaska.

For the solo riders, they can use food bag drops and support stations out on the course at checkpoints three and five.

They will be able to use the solo support vehicle at these locations if they choose to pick up their additional supplies.

The race crosses into the United States on the seventh leg of the relay which requires riders to dismount their bikes and show their passports and clear customs before continuing the race.

Ahead of the 2017 race, heavy precipitation forced the race to be cancelled with a post going out around 6 a.m. on race morning saying the race had to be cancelled for the safety of the riders.

The race fees were not refunded because the relay is a non-profit organization and the race was ready to go with more than 200 volunteers lined up and community organizations in both Alaska and the Yukon awarded honorariums.

The 2016 edition of the race saw an exciting sprint finish in the solo category with Preston Blackie winning a sprint to the line over Tyson Flaherty, 2015 winner Joel Macht and Janna Gillick – the top woman – who finished a second back of one another. Blackie won in a time of seven hours, nine minutes and 49 seconds. He finished right behind overall race winners Ian Parker and Stephen Ball who completed the two-person relay.

With a second go at the 25th anniversary running, this year’s full-capacity race is set for June 16.