10 May 2026
Grasmere, Ambleside
Starts: 06:00
Distance: 112 Miles
Entry Fee: £0
REGISTER HERE FOR THE BALLOT
READ NOTES ABOUT GROUP ENTRIES BEFORE YOU REGISTER
The Wheelbase Fred Whitton Challenge is one of the most popular sportives in the UK and is also famed as being particularly difficult. Dubbed ‘The Daddy of them all’ by Cycling Weekly, 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 Wheelbase 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’.The Wheelbase Fred Whitton Challenge consists of a 112 mile sportive around the Lake District, now a World Heritage Site. Starting at Grasmere and taking in climbs of Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Hardknott, Wrynose and Blea Tarn passes. The very top riders complete the route in just under 6 hours but 11 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. Entries:- 1st December 2025 General ballot places open for entry 12th December 2025 General ballot places close for entry 15th December 2025 Ballot places announced 10th May 2026 Wheelbase Fred Whitton Challenge
Organiser
Course
- Distance:
- 112 Miles
- Type:
- Road
- Profile:
- Hilly
- Laps:
See Map
- Entry limit:
- 10000
- Remaining places:
- 10000
- Race licence:
- TBC
- Not suitable for wheelchairs
Facilities
- Water stations
- Toilets
- No distance markers
- No changing facilities
- No showers
- No baggage store
- Race HQ:
- The Showfield, Stock Lane, Grasmere, Ambleside LA22 9SL
Groups: You can register as a group of two, three or four riders, to ensure that either you all get in or none of you get in. This means that your group will either all get places or none of you will get places in the event; this will suit you if you only want to ride the event if your friends are also riding (e.g. if you want to travel together to the event). If you register individually, there is no guarantee that you will all be successful in the ballot. To register as a group, choose the ticket type that matches your group size (2, 3 or 4). You will need to submit all details for yourself (the team “captain”) and the name, date of birth and gender of your team members. When the ballot is drawn, only the team captain will receive the notification of the ballot outcome.” Please make sure you have read all the FWC T&Cs, and please note anyone with multiple entries will be excluded from the draw.
Note: Your entry fee is not refundable or transferable if you cannot ride the event. However, if you cannot ride then please let us know as soon as possible by emailing entriesfwc@gmail.com and we can defer your entry. This means all your entry fee for this year’s event will go to the event charities, and we will keep a reserved place for you in the 2027 event if you want it (normal entry fee applies).
Entry Fees
The prices below include race fees, card charges and admin; there are no hidden extras.
| Solo rider ballot registration | £0 |
| Two riders ballot registration (both in or neither in) | £0 |
| Three riders ballot registration (all three in or none in) | £0 |
| Four riders ballot registration (all four in or none in) | £0 |
Entry on the day will not be available. ENTER NOW to guarantee your place.
