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Fred Whitton Challenge

I got a cancellation place and will be 'competing' next Sunday. Watch out for rider #160. Oh crikey, what have I done ;-) Looks like the weather is set to be truly awful on the day.

The challenge is run in the memory of Fred Whitton who was the Lakes Road Club racing secretary for many years, the Lakes and Lancs’ Division road racing secretary, an ex first cat, a promoter of numerous road races including the Lakes three day, an all round clubman who could drink a pint of Guinness with the best of them, sadly missed when he died of cancer at the age of 50. The proceeds of the ride will be donated equally to the MacMillan Nurses and the Dave Rayner Fund.

The sportive is about 114 miles long and takes in 4000 metres of climbing, so it really is a good measure of readiness for L'Etape, as well as being the premier UK sportive and a big day in its own right. Starting & finishing at Coniston, the route includes Ambleside, Kirkstone Pass (but not 'The Struggle' thankfully), Patterdale, Troutbeck (north),Keswick, Borrowdale, Honister Pass, Buttermere, Newlands Pass, Braithwaite,Whinlatter Pass, Loweswater, Ennerdale Bridge, Gosforth, Eskdale & finishing with the infamous Hardknott & Wrynose Passes, after a mere 100 miles in the saddle!

The Route

If it does rain I'll be the one who dismounts at the top of Hardknott, Wrynose, Honister and walks down them (you think I'm kidding?)

Target time? Who knows ... I'll be happy to finish without dismounting on any of the ascents.
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