Stunning Views…
Stunning Views…
The Fred Whitton Sportive takes you past some of the most breath-taking scenery in the UK
Volunteers…
Volunteers…
Are always appreciated – let us know if you’d like to help out at future events
‘The UK’s ultimate one-day challenge’ – Cycling Weekly
‘The UK’s ultimate one-day challenge’ – Cycling Weekly
An incredible £210,000 Raised by you for charity in 2018
An incredible £210,000 Raised by you for charity in 2018
Good Effort!
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. 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’. Fred, who died aged just 50 in 1998, was an extremely popular member of the Lakes Road Club.
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.
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 IS SUNDAY 10th MAY 2020
There’s an excellent description of the 2018 ride from Ollie Bridgewood from Cycling Weekly. Ollie completed the ride in under 6 hours (one of only three riders to do so), on a slightly longer course–including the Blea Tarn climb and the whole of Great Langdale. He made a great video of the ride too. A big thanks from all at The Saddleback Fred Whitton. You can see the video here.
Latest News
Jun
Presentation Night 2019
posted under: Charities, Fred Whitton Challenge, Lake District Rides
Big Night Out The Saddleback Fred Whitton Challenge next big event, Thursday 4th July 2019 Join us for our annual Presentation Night the Lakes social event of the year a 30-mile ride around Coniston Water starting from the Square in the village of Broughton-in-Furness at 6.30 pm and afterwards at…
£1000000 raised for MacMillan by The Fred Whitton Challenge
posted under: Charities
20th Fred Whitton Challenge After 20 years of the ride, The Fred Whitton Challenge reached a significant milestone in its history, with the tremendous help of the riders and the surplus on the event, the ride has now reached a total of One Million Pounds raised for its main charity…
The Saddleback Fred Whitton Challenge Twentieth Year
posted under: Fred Whitton Challenge, Fred Whitton Challenge is 20, Uncategorized
In this year our Twentieth year The Fred Whitton Challenge is teaming up with Power To Weight professional online cycling coaching, offering all riders a free training plan. Power To Weight Power To Weight will be creating a free 12 week plan, designed specifically for the Fred Whitton Challenge. This…
