Race Calendar

Fred Whitton Challenge 2025 - PRE-ENTRY INVITE

11 May 2025

Grasmere, Ambleside
Starts: 06:00
Distance: 112 Miles
Entry Fee: £112.35
Prices include entry fee, card charges and admin; there are no hidden extras

WELCOME TO THE FRED WHITTON CHALLENGE

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 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. Entries:- Pre-entries will be in November and the main ballot window will be in December 1st November 2024 Special Charity entry / Overseas entry / Deferred entry / Volunteer entry 2nd December 2024 General ballot places open for entry 11th December 2024 General ballot places close for entry 16th December 2024 Ballot places announced 11th May 2025 Wheelbase Fred Whitton Challenge

Organiser

Course

Distance:
112 Miles
Type:
Road
Profile:
Hilly
Laps:
See Map
Entry limit:
1000
Remaining places:
726
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

Feed stations

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 2025 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.

Deferred from 2024£112.35
Volunteer Entry (USE DISCOUNT CODE)£112.35
Overseas Entry (BY INVITE ONLY)£112.35
Super Fundraiser (USE DISCOUNT CODE)£112.35
Entry on the day will not be available. ENTER NOW to guarantee your place.

Previous Years