Organizers for the 2004 Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay received their first registration form at 6:30 a.m. Monday.

The participant, from Ontario, will be just one of an expected full field of 1,200 competitors for this year's race, which will get underway June 19. Registration for the 12th annual bike relay began Monday and will run until June 15 at 4:30 p.m. Early registration ends May 21 at 4 p.m.

Solo, two, four and eight person teams can enter the relay ó, men's, women's or mixed. A four person mixed team must have at least one female and an eight person mixed team must have at least three women.

'There can be a maximum of 1,200 riders, and we do expect a full field this year,' said race coordinator Mike Young in an interview Monday. 'So we suggest you have your team in by early deadline.'

Young added officials will not be taking registration in Haines Junction after June 15th this year, as has been the practice in past years. All registration is done online, at www.kcibr.org. The forms can either be e-mailed, mailed or dropped off at Sport Yukon by the entry deadline.

Young said the board has lost four experienced members this year, as they just 'kind of burned out', but he emphasized they have received some new and very enthusiastic board members. Now they just need more volunteers to help out with the race.

'The race requires about 500 volunteers, and that's including RCMP, highways, ambulance ski patrol, the Yukon Amateur Radio Association and state troopers,' he said. 'The majority of the volunteers are needed for race checkpoints.

'Last year, we almost had to cancel because we didn't have enough volunteers for the checkpoints. We don't want to be in that situation again this year.'

Anyone interested in volunteering for the race can e-mail info@kcibr.org, indicating you would like to volunteer. All volunteers get complementary t-shirts, a free dinner ticket for the Haines banquet and 'chances to win some great door prizes.

'Any help is greatly appreciated by both the board and especially the riders that participate in the relay,' said Young.

While there are no rule changes this year, the organizer did ask that anyone riding to checkpoint seven try to get across the border before there's a big jam. Last year there was about a two hour wait at the border and some people couldn't make their checkpoint on time.

The race runs 238 kilometres from start to finish. Last year, Tighty Whighties was the top solo men's rider while Team Rotary International was first in the men's two-rider category. Les Schwab 1 was first in the men's four-rider division with Fortune Favors the Bold grabbing the top spot in men's eight-rider competition.

In mixed action, The East Coasters were the first two-person team to cross the finish line. Tour de Haines won the four-person mixed category while Blood, Sweat and Gears emerging victorious in the eight-person mixed division.

'It's a lot of fun, it's a good stress reliever and it's a good social gathering in Haines,' said Young, when asked what makes the Kluane Chilkat race special. 'It's a great way to spend a long weekend.'

Young said training for the bike relay will probably be fierce over the coming months, so motorists should be aware and watch out for cyclists on the road.