Stunning Views…
Stunning Views…
The Fred Whitton Sportive takes you past some of the most breath-taking scenery in the UK
Got the Jersey?
Got the Jersey?
The official Saddleback Fred Whitton Challenge Jersey is available to purchase
‘The UK’s ultimate one-day challenge’ – Cycling Weekly
‘The UK’s ultimate one-day challenge’ – Cycling Weekly
Volunteers…
Volunteers…
Are always appreciated – let us know if you’d like to help out at future events
2019 Rider list now available
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 12th MAY 2019
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
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…
Sep
A Long ride for short legs
posted under: Charities, Fred Whitton Challenge
Super Seven We know the Fred Whitton is one of the hardest one day rides in the country, but consider only being 7 years old and riding Lands End John o’Groats! Elliott Gordon-Lee set off from Lands End on the 29th August with his dad Dan, and has so far…
2019 Fred Whitton Challenge 20th Anniversary
posted under: Fred Whitton Challenge
2019, the 20th year of the Saddleback Fred Whitton Challenge Returning from a short rest the 12 person steering group team are now back working again to make the 2019 ride something special. After finalising this year’s ride we can now announce that the final amount that will go to…
