Stunning Views…
Stunning Views…
The Fred Whitton Sportive takes you past some of the most breath-taking scenery in the UK
Event 10th May : Entry now closed : Rider List >>>
Fred’s Challenge Beer
fred shop
Sign-in-Spain
Fred Whitton T-shirts
Storrs Hall Windermere
Help us make it to the One Million Pounds target
2015 will be our sixteenth year of the ride. We were the first so-called Sportive and we started out as a charity event, which is what we still are today. All the profit from the event goes to charity and with your help, no matter how large or small, we hope we can reach this fantastic amount between us.
Because we are very near our target for sponsorship of ONE MILLION POUNDS raised so far on The Saddleback Fred Whitton Challenge we are pretty sure that with some help from our riders, this is the year we reach this amazing total.
When we started out in 1999 with only 70 riders on a ride that was a tribute to our friend we had no idea we would be starting a new trend in Cycling… don’t forget this was before Sky, and long before two British riders won The Tour de France! Throughout the years we have stayed true to our original aims – running a challenge around some of the most spectacular scenery in the British Isles for all abilities of cyclists and to raise money for some deserving causes along the way. Our main Charity is Macmillan Cancer Support – we also support The Air Ambulance, Mountain Rescue and youth cycling in all its forms.
We have two Challenges this year… one, the 112 Mile Route. And the other… reaching our ONE MILLION target. We are sure you will not let us down.
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The Fred Whitton Challenge is one of the most popular sportives in the UK and is also famed as being particularly difficult. Riders rank it alongside European events such as the Marmotte in terms of difficulty.
The Fred Whitton Challenge consists of a 112 mile sportive around the Lake District, starting at Grasmere and taking in climbs of Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Hardknott & Wrynose passes.
As the name suggests, it is run in honour of Fred Whitton. Fred, who died aged just 50 in 1998, was an extremely popular member of the Lakes Road Club.
The very top riders complete the route in just under six hours but eleven hours and over are not uncommon for the average Sportive rider. This is a very tough route and going on rider feedback the hardest one day ride in the UK, the event includes all the Lakeland passes, one with a 30% gradient and this comes at 98 miles.
We are pleased to announce the final total of sponsorship raised on this year’s Fred Whitton Challenge is a staggering £214,000.
Latest Videos
The Fred Whitton Film
An insight into the organising challenge behind the Fred Whitton Challenge
Fred Whitton Challenge 2014
Time Lapse Video
Ride the route with Fredrico
Latest News
Amazing Final Total
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We are pleased to announce the final total of sponsorship raised on this year’s ride is a staggering £214,000. (from both the riders and the surplus on the event). We have now managed to increase our funding to our main charity Macmillan Cancer Support to £140,000, and donations to Air Ambulance of £30,000 and…
Aug
CREDIT, WHERE CREDIT’S DUE
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Paul Loftus, is the 2014 recipient of Cumbria Tourism’s Bernard Gooch Tourism Personality of the Year Award on behalf of The Fred Whitton Challenge Paul was presented with the accolade at Cumbria Tourism’s Annual General Meeting, held at the North Lakes Hotel, Penrith, at the end of June. Each year…
Jul
Fit as a butcher’s dog
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Look who we found outside Tyson’s shop in Broughton in Furness. Ian Tyson the ‘shopkeeper extraordinaire’ rides the Fred Whitton each year and also supplies 2000 Bananas free to the event – looks like he now has a new member of staff, for express delivery around the Village!
