{{Short description|Charity cyclosportive event}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}} {{Use British English|date=January 2017}} The '''Fred Whitton Challenge''' is a charity [[cyclosportive]] event held annually in the English [[Lake District]], in aid of [[Macmillan Cancer Support]], Cumbria's air ambulances, the mountain rescue service and various youth cycling projects. It is held in memory of Fred Whitton, racing secretary of the Lakes Road Club, who died of [[cancer]] at the age of 50 in 1998. The event started in 1999 and has been held every year since, except for 2001 and 2020 when it was cancelled due to the [[2001 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth crisis|foot-and-mouth epidemic]] and the [[COVID-19 pandemic|international COVID-19 pandemic]] respectively.
The event has raised over [[British pound|£]]2,000,000 (two million pounds) and is Macmillan's biggest fundraiser in [[Cumbria]].<ref>{{cite web|title=One million reasons to cheer the Fred Whitton Challenge|url=http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/14109168.One_million_reasons_to_cheer_the_Fred_Whitton_Challenge/?ref=mr&lp=17|publisher=The Westmorland Gazette|accessdate=5 November 2016}}</ref>
Starting and finishing in [[Grasmere (village)|Grasmere]], the route is {{convert|183|km|mi}} long, with {{Convert|3500|m|ft}} elevation gain.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021|title=Fred Whitton Challenge - Frequently Asked Questions|url=https://www.fredwhittonchallenge.co.uk/faqs/|access-date=2021-09-03|website=Fred Whitton Challenge|language=en}}</ref> 2,500 riders take part in the challenge. The route heads for [[Ambleside]], before crossing [[Kirkstone Pass]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesandstar.co.uk/sport/17641105.cyclists-face-up-to-the-fred-whitton-challenge/|title=Cyclists face up to the Fred Whitton Challenge|website=Times and Star|language=en|access-date=2019-08-27}}</ref> It descends through [[Glenridding]], on the shore of [[Ullswater]], before heading for [[Keswick, Cumbria|Keswick]]. It then crosses [[Honister Pass]], before reaching [[Buttermere]] and climbing [[Newlands Pass]]. From here, the route takes in [[Whinlatter Pass]] out of [[Braithwaite]]. Riders then head south down the Western Lake District, including climbing [[Cold Fell (Calder Bridge)|Cold Fell]] out of [[Ennerdale Bridge]]. Finally, the route turns eastward towards the finish, taking riders through [[Eskdale, Cumbria|Eskdale]], crossing the famous [[Hardknott Pass|Hardknott]] and [[Wrynose Pass|Wrynose Passes]] (after almost {{Convert|161|km|mi}} of riding) and then past Blea Tarn, down through Langdale to the finish in Grasmere.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fredwhittonchallenge.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Fred-Whitton-Challenge-Route-Guide.pdf|title=cycling climbs of the saddleback Fred Whitton challenge|last=Warren|first=Simon|website=Fred Whitton Challenge}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Cumbria}} *[[Cyclosportive]] *[[Challenge riding]]
==External links== *[http://www.fredwhittonchallenge.co.uk/ The Fred Whitton Challenge] Official Website *[http://www.macmillan.org.uk/ MacMillan Cancer Support]
==References== {{reflist}}
[[Category:Sport in Cumbria]] [[Category:Cyclosportives in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Charity events in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Lake District]]