# Fred Whitton Challenge

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Charity cyclosportive event

The **Fred Whitton Challenge** is a charity [cyclosportive](/source/Cyclosportive) event held annually in the English [Lake District](/source/Lake_District), in aid of [Macmillan Cancer Support](/source/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](/source/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 [foot-and-mouth epidemic](/source/2001_United_Kingdom_foot-and-mouth_crisis) and the [international COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic) respectively.

The event has raised over [£](/source/British_pound)2,000,000 (two million pounds) and is Macmillan's biggest fundraiser in [Cumbria](/source/Cumbria).[1]

Starting and finishing in [Grasmere](/source/Grasmere_(village)), the route is 183 kilometres (114 mi) long, with 3,500 metres (11,500 ft) elevation gain.[2] 2,500 riders take part in the challenge. The route heads for [Ambleside](/source/Ambleside), before crossing [Kirkstone Pass](/source/Kirkstone_Pass).[3] It descends through [Glenridding](/source/Glenridding), on the shore of [Ullswater](/source/Ullswater), before heading for [Keswick](/source/Keswick%2C_Cumbria). It then crosses [Honister Pass](/source/Honister_Pass), before reaching [Buttermere](/source/Buttermere) and climbing [Newlands Pass](/source/Newlands_Pass). From here, the route takes in [Whinlatter Pass](/source/Whinlatter_Pass) out of [Braithwaite](/source/Braithwaite). Riders then head south down the Western Lake District, including climbing [Cold Fell](/source/Cold_Fell_(Calder_Bridge)) out of [Ennerdale Bridge](/source/Ennerdale_Bridge). Finally, the route turns eastward towards the finish, taking riders through [Eskdale](/source/Eskdale%2C_Cumbria), crossing the famous [Hardknott](/source/Hardknott_Pass) and [Wrynose Passes](/source/Wrynose_Pass) (after almost 161 kilometres (100 mi) of riding) and then past Blea Tarn, down through Langdale to the finish in Grasmere.[4]

## See also

- [Cumbria portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Cumbria)

- [Cyclosportive](/source/Cyclosportive)

- [Challenge riding](/source/Challenge_riding)

## External links

- [The Fred Whitton Challenge](http://www.fredwhittonchallenge.co.uk/) Official Website

- [MacMillan Cancer Support](http://www.macmillan.org.uk/)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["One million reasons to cheer the Fred Whitton Challenge"](http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/14109168.One_million_reasons_to_cheer_the_Fred_Whitton_Challenge/?ref=mr&lp=17). The Westmorland Gazette. Retrieved 5 November 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Fred Whitton Challenge - Frequently Asked Questions"](https://www.fredwhittonchallenge.co.uk/faqs/). *Fred Whitton Challenge*. 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Cyclists face up to the Fred Whitton Challenge"](https://www.timesandstar.co.uk/sport/17641105.cyclists-face-up-to-the-fred-whitton-challenge/). *Times and Star*. Retrieved 27 August 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Warren, Simon. ["cycling climbs of the saddleback Fred Whitton challenge"](https://www.fredwhittonchallenge.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Fred-Whitton-Challenge-Route-Guide.pdf) (PDF). *Fred Whitton Challenge*.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Fred Whitton Challenge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Whitton_Challenge) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Whitton_Challenge?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.