About 700 cyclists will race on the Glenn Highway this weekend for the annual Fireweed 400.
The event, which began in 2004 with 124 riders and has since has become Alaska's biggest bike race, offers four distances -- 400 miles, 200 miles, 100 miles and 50 miles.
All of the races begin at Sheep Mountain Lodge near Sutton. The 400-mile race -- a qualifier for the Race Across America -- begins at noon Friday. All of the other events begin Saturday morning.
New champions are expected in the 400-mile race, which goes to Valdez and back. Martin Renner, who won the men's race last year, is signed up for the 200-miler this year, and Lael Wilcox, who won the women's race, is not registered for any of the races.