Fred Whitton Challenge Sportive 2015

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 consists of a 112 mile sportive around the Lake District, starting at Coniston 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. In his capacity as club secretary he was full of enthusiasm for the club and ran it practically single handedly. He was the organiser of the Lakes Road Club Easter 3-day each year which attracted many of the UKs top riders.

The very top riders complete the course in just under six hours but eleven hours and over are not uncommon for the normal rider. This is a very tough route, especially as the Lakes weather in May can not be kind and it can often be very windy. In 2014 two riders were airlifted to hospital in separate incidents in a sportive that experienced rainy but not extreme conditions.

It is an extremely popular event and sell outs very rapidly. Tickets for the 2015 Fred Whitton will go on sale in early December and often involves a ballot for places.