Welcome to The Fred Whitton Challenge
The Fred Whitton Challenge is one of the most popular sportives in the UK and is also famed as being particularly difficult. Dubbed ‘The Daddy of them all’ by Cycling Weekly, riders rank it alongside European events such as the Marmotte in terms of difficulty. 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’.
The Fred Whitton Challenge consists of a 113 mile sportive around the Lake District, now a World Heritage Site. Starting at Grasmere and taking in climbs of Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Hardknott, Wrynose and Blea Tarn passes.
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.
Next Event: 19/09/21
FRED WHITTON
The person who inspired the ride, and whose untimely death moved us to ride the route and raise money for charity in his memory.
SADDLEBACK
Our main sponsors and valued supporters of the event for the past 10 years
CHALLENGE
That’s exactly what it is – 113 miles on the toughest route in Britain. We make no bones about the ride, it is hard, and will probably be the hardest one day ride you will ever complete. It will take a lot of effort and willpower to finish the event, please don’t take it lightly, and don’t attempt it if it’s your first sportive.
VOLUNTEER
3 MONTH TRAINING PLAN
2021 RIDER LIST
All riders entered into the May 2021 event have been automatically moved onto our 19th September 2021 event, the deadline to move your entry to May 2022 has now passed. If you do not have a place for the September 2021 event. the only way to guarantee your place is via our special charity entries, for entry and more information please visit the ENTRY page
We have a small number of special charity entries available; this is the only way to guarantee a place for the September 2021 event if you don’t already have a place. More details and entry can be found here
YEARS
CHARITIES
TOTAL RAISED
FWC News
Saddleback Fred Whitton Challenge Donates £55,000 to Charity amid International Pandemic
Despite not being able to deliver the event in 2020 due to COVID-19, the annual Lake District cycling event the Saddleback Fred Whitton Challenge has been able to donate a much needed £55,000 across Macmillan Cancer Research and three additional Cumbria based charities.
Fred Whitton & the Challenge
The Fred Whitton Challenge has been raising money for charity since it began in 1999, but who is Fred Whitton – and why is it named after him? Until his untimely death in 1998 at the age of 50, Fred Whitton was an extremely popular member of the Lakes Road Club. Not only was Fred the main instigator behind all the clubs’ activities, but he was also always there on the club runs and training weekends. Living near to all the big Lake District steep climbs Fred would have known them all, so the year following his death we decided to cycle the route in his honour and use it as an opportunity to raise a bit of money for charity… twenty years later that ‘bit’ for charity is now reaching the £2000000 mark! We always think of Fred’s reaction to the event on the day and wonder what he would have made of it all.
Dates for your Diary
Registration
An email has been sent out to all riders in the 2021 event to inform you that unfortunately due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation in the UK, the Fred Whitton Challenge Steering group have made the unanimous decision to reschedule the Saddleback Fred Whitton Challenge to Sunday 19th September 2021.
Rider List Announcement
Due to the unique situation we are all facing, we are making an exception to our standard terms and conditions. If you are unable to ride in September 2021 for any reason, you can move your entry to May 2022 (08/05/22) free of charge. If you would like to do this, please email entriesfwc@gmail.com.
The Event (19/09/21)
Normally the event is held on the Sunday following the May Day Bank Holiday. This year, due to the ongoing COVID situation the event has been moved to 19th September 2021.
Friends of the Fred
Want to get involved?
It takes over 350 registered volunteers to keep the Fred Whitton Challenge going. If you’d like to help out at the event jobs for volunteers vary depending on location, time of day and skills. Please register your interest before the event. All volunteers are guaranteed a place on the following years' ride.
Or you can donate to any of our chosen charities. All donations are well received and go to helping fund these fantastic services in the community.
