Registration for the 19th annual Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay (KCIBR) is set to close next June 10 at midnight.

So far, 1,100 riders are signed up to participate in the 245-kilometre relay.

Due to demand, race officials and the KCIBR board decided to increase the limit of eight-person teams to 95 teams, but will maintain the limit on total participation at 1,200.

The main reason for limiting the number of participants is to reduce some of the hazards related to the number of vehicles on the road and to control the safety problems in the first two checkpoints.

This year there are two options for attending the mandatory team captains' meeting.

Whitehorse teams are encouraged to attend the June 15 meeting at 7 p.m. at the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre. Race packages will be available for pick up at 6 p.m.

All other teams will attend the June 17 meeting at the Convention Centre in Haines Junction.

The Haines Junction registration opens at 6 p.m. and the captains' meeting will start at 9 p.m.

Changes to traffic control at Checkpoints 1 and 2 have been made again this year in a continuing effort to improve safety and flow at the two busiest checkpoints.

The traffic control rules will apply from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. while the Haines Highway is closed.

At Checkpoint 1, a designated bike and vehicle lane will be in place as it was last year, but this year it will begin half kilometre north of the checkpoint and end 1 1/2 kilometres south of the checkpoint.

The right lane and shoulder of the highway will be for cyclists and pedestrians only.

The left lane and shoulder of the highway will be for vehicles only.

Vehicles will be allowed to only travel southbound until 10 a.m.

Checkpoint 2 will have no parking on the right side of the highway from one kilometre north to one kilometre south of the checkpoint.

All vehicles must park on the left side (northbound) of the highway.

Pedestrians will be directed to walk on the southbound side on the shoulder.

Race coordinators and the RCMP will also enforce the rule that disallows parking in the first 3.8 kilometres of the course and the rule that allows only Leg 1 support vehicles to leave the pullout at kilometre 3.8.

Vehicles that do not have ‘support vehicle' accreditation will not be allowed to leave the pullout until the highway opens at 10 a.m.

All users of the Haines Highway are reminded that the road is closed to all vehicles except officials and support vehicles between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time.

Northbound traffic will be stopped at the Kathleen River at 8 a.m. and southbound traffic will be stopped in Haines Junction at 8:15 a.m.

The highway will reopen for southbound traffic at 9:30 a.m. and for northbound traffic at 10:00 a.m.

Road closures and traffic control would not be possible without the cooperation of Yukon Department of Highways, RCMP and the Alaska State Troopers.

Over 200 volunteers have been recruited and are ready to put on another great relay.

Major sponsors for the event are Lotteries Yukon, Northwestel, and the Yukon Electrical Company.