Stunning Views…
Stunning Views…
The Fred Whitton Sportive takes you past some of the most breath-taking scenery in the UK
Date for your diary ... Sunday May 7th 2017
Friends of the Fred
Latest News
Jul
Presentation Night
posted under: Lake District Rides, MacMillan
We held our annual presentation evening on Thursday 16th July and surprise surprise, like the day of the main ride, the weather was warm and sunny for our ride around Coniston Lake. After the steady ride we were certainly ready to enjoy the hospitality at The Prince of Wales at Foxfield on…
2016 Annual Presentation Night
posted under: Uncategorized
We would like you to join us to celebrate this years event with our annual presentation night on Thursday July 14th, at the now world famous Prince of Wales, Foxfield, Cumbria. Linda and Stewart will be organising the food and beer, and we will organise the ride. Join us for a thirty mile…
Jun
An MBE … and other news
posted under: Lake District Rides, Lofty
A BIG thank you to you all for your nice comments about myself being awarded the MBE in the Queens 90th Birthday Honours list. Unfortunately the Queen could not join us at The Prince of Wales presentation night due to another engagement, so it looks like Sally and I will…
Jun
Another successful year
posted under: Lake District Rides
We’ve been getting some great feedback about this year’s Saddleback Fred Whitton Challenge. Here are just a few comments from happy riders! I rode the Fred yesterday (for the third time) and it was by far the best organised, marshalled and sign posted of any UK event I have attended…
The 2017 Saddleback Fred Whitton Challenge
The 2017 Fred Whitton Challenge will take place on 7th May. The ride is a real challenge and everyone who completes it has a true sense of achievement. The Saddleback Fred Whitton Challenge is a charity event in honour of the late Fred Whitton who was a great advocate for cycle sport in Cumbria and North Lancashire. It is with respect to Fred and his ideals that the event remains just that, ‘a challenge’ … an excellent account of this year’s ride was recently written by Kate Rawles in The Adventure Syndicate blog.
Check out the results page
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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.
Latest Videos
The Fred Whitton Film
An insight into the organising challenge behind the Fred Whitton Challenge
Fred Whitton Challenge 2014
