Sunday 9th May 2027

Fred Whitton Challenge 2027 - BALLOT

Grasmere, Ambleside tick

£0.00 - £0.00

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. TIMETABLE 2nd November 2026 Special Charity entry / Overseas entry / Deferred entry / Volunteer entry 1st December 2026 General ballot places open for entry 10th December 2026 General ballot places close for entry 14th-20th December 2026 Ballot places announced 9th May 2027 Wheelbase Fred Whitton Challenge

Sunday 9th May 2027

Fred Whitton Challenge 2027 - BALLOT

tick Grasmere, Ambleside

tick £0.00 - £0.00

06:00

distance 112 Miles

Entry opens 08:00 on 1 Dec 2026

ORGANISER

The Wheelbase Fred Whitton Challenge Steering Group

Address

Contact

Paul Loftus
entriesfwc@gmail.com

COURSE

Distance

112 Miles

Type

Sportive

Profile

Hilly

Laps

Entry Limit

10000

Places Left

10000

Race Licence

TBC

Not suitable for wheelchairs

See Route Map

FACILITIES

Water

Toilets

No Distance Markers

No Changing Facilities

No Showers

No Baggage Storage

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.