In spite of a cool April, Whitehorse cyclists are training for the Kluane to Chilkat International Bike Relay.

The 19th running of the event will take place on June 18. Registration opened in March and will continue until June 10 at midnight.

Participants who want to get a souvenir t-shirt must register by the early deadline on May 13. The t-shirt design can be viewed on the KCIBR website.

More than 1,000 riders are expected, but there will be a cap on the total number of riders this year.

No more than 1,200 participants will be allowed and the maximum number of eight-person teams will

be 85. The reason for limiting the numbers is to make the event as safe as possible by reducing vehicle traffic.

Organizers have made one important pre-event change. There will be two team captains' meetings this year. Teams in Whitehorse will have the option of picking up their race packages and attending a captains' briefing on June 15 at the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre.

The regular Friday night captains' meeting in Haines Junction will take place as usual for teams that don't make the Whitehorse meeting.

The race starts in Haines Junction on June 18 at 8:30 a.m. The first riders are expected to arrive in Haines, Alaska by 3 p.m. and the red lantern winners will likely cross the finish line at Ft. William Seward by 9 p.m. This year the awards ceremony will be held immediately after the event at the finish area.

A tent city pops up on the Ft. William Seward parade grounds in the afternoon. An excellent halibut or vegetarian chowder awaits all participants and is served in view of the finish line.

Cyclists will be timed using the SI system that was introduced three years ago.

Each team will carry an SI stick on a lanyard and will pass it from rider to rider after dipping it in the timing station. Solo riders will also carry a ‘stick'. All riders will get a finish time by inserting the SI stick in the finish line station.

The Yukon Orienteering Association has provided the software and expertise to make this timing system so successful.

Teams can enter in one of several categories: solo, two-, four-, and eight-person teams for men, women and mixed.

The bike relay is an international event, crossing the U.S.-Canada border 65 kilometres from Haines. All visitors to Alaska, including riders on Leg 7, must show a passport at U.S. customs. Cyclists will have to dismount and show their passport.

If passports are not ready when required, the vehicle may be sent to a slow lane to await clearance.

The major sponsors, Lotteries Yukon and Yukon Electrical Company, provide funding to help organize the event and to recognize the volunteers.

To register or to find out more about the bike relay, visit the website at www.kcibr.org.