(From a report from Trena Irving.) The Tour de Haines Junction 2019 on Sunday had the most participants ever. There were 21 racers and two races were held; a time trial in the morning and a road race in the afternoon.

The time trial was a distance of 20 km, or youth could do 10 km. The road race was 30 km for youth, 50 km for youth travelling to upcoming Hayman Classic in Penticton and 80 or 100 km for older youth travelling to Western Canada Games this summer.

Mara Roldan was the strongest youth female rider taking first in the time trial and the road race, while Lucas Taggart-Cox took the top youth male ranking. Marc Lapointe won expert men in the road race but Denny Bohmer took the GC (general classification) for the time trial and road race.

For a few of the riders, it was their first longer road race. The weather was incredible, although headwinds prevailed in both directions of the races, ensuring the riders got a proper workout of legs and lungs.

The next event in the Tour de Skagway this long weekend. Races happen on May 18 (time trial and road race) and May 19 – the dreaded Skagway Hill climb.