The Fred 2019
The Fred Whitton Challenge 2019
From the official website....
"The Fred Whitton Challenge is one of the most popular sportives in the UK and is also famed as being particularly difficult. Riders rank it alongside European events such as the Marmotte in terms of difficulty."
As official photographers it is an event that we have grown to love and take some satisfaction that we have done our bit in promoting it to a wider audience.
So 2019 let's get started.....
The twentieth edition of the Fred Whitton Challenge as seen by the photographers of steveflemingphoto.com
5am Grasmere Sports field, one hour to go to the start and a chance to make last minute checks. What a great start to the day, the sun cresting the Fell tops - I've never seen that at the start of the challenge.
Car park at dawn
Signing on and goodie bags.
Tandem teams prepare
The route
Lallier Bike awaiting the challenge - fund raising for The Mountain Rescue.
Riders make their way to the start.
Riders start to line up.
The start gate team.
And they're off, 114 miles to go!
Paul Loftus MBE, Fred Whitton Challenge Organiser
Kirkstone Pass
First major pass is Kirkstone and also highest point on the route.
Enjoying the Lakeland landscape.
Newlands Pass
The climb out of Buttermere after the first foodstop.
Our photographer, Carlos, was on Newlands to capture the action on the timed climb.
Strong climbing on the timed section of Newlands Pass.
Hardknott Pass
Hardknott Roman Fort - blame them for building the road!
Hardknott panorama
First riders tackle the pass
Hardknott Ramp leading to the infamous hairpin bend.
This isn't going to end well
Riders on the Hairpin bend
So you got past Marian on the "Flat Bit" Steve on the Ramp and Hayley on the Hairpin Bend. Matthew is waiting to catch that final Hardknott pain.
Wheelie Good Effort!!
Fred Whitton kit being shown off well
If you wear the polka dot jersey......
Team Holdsworth Zappi attacking the Pass
Team Macmillan riding for one of the Fred Whitton Challenge charities.
You're not supposed to be smiling!
A rider perspective of the Hardknott Pass - England's steepest road.
Fastest rider of the day in 5 hours 55 minutes.
Another great year for the event and congratulations to all the riders, supporters and the organisation. We could have included so many more pictures in this brief report so don't forget to check our galleries. Thanks for the fantastic feedback about our work and the roadside banter.
Now how about next year........
From the official website....
"The Fred Whitton Challenge is one of the most popular sportives in the UK and is also famed as being particularly difficult. Riders rank it alongside European events such as the Marmotte in terms of difficulty."
As official photographers it is an event that we have grown to love and take some satisfaction that we have done our bit in promoting it to a wider audience.
So 2019 let's get started.....
The twentieth edition of the Fred Whitton Challenge as seen by the photographers of steveflemingphoto.com
5am Grasmere Sports field, one hour to go to the start and a chance to make last minute checks. What a great start to the day, the sun cresting the Fell tops - I've never seen that at the start of the challenge.
Car park at dawn
Signing on and goodie bags.
Tandem teams prepare
The route
Lallier Bike awaiting the challenge - fund raising for The Mountain Rescue.
Riders make their way to the start.
Riders start to line up.
The start gate team.
And they're off, 114 miles to go!
Paul Loftus MBE, Fred Whitton Challenge Organiser
Kirkstone Pass
First major pass is Kirkstone and also highest point on the route.
Enjoying the Lakeland landscape.
Newlands Pass
The climb out of Buttermere after the first foodstop.
Our photographer, Carlos, was on Newlands to capture the action on the timed climb.
Strong climbing on the timed section of Newlands Pass.
Hardknott Pass
Hardknott Roman Fort - blame them for building the road!
Hardknott panorama
First riders tackle the pass
Hardknott Ramp leading to the infamous hairpin bend.
This isn't going to end well
Riders on the Hairpin bend
So you got past Marian on the "Flat Bit" Steve on the Ramp and Hayley on the Hairpin Bend. Matthew is waiting to catch that final Hardknott pain.
Wheelie Good Effort!!
Fred Whitton kit being shown off well
If you wear the polka dot jersey......
Team Holdsworth Zappi attacking the Pass
Team Macmillan riding for one of the Fred Whitton Challenge charities.
You're not supposed to be smiling!
A rider perspective of the Hardknott Pass - England's steepest road.
Fastest rider of the day in 5 hours 55 minutes.
Another great year for the event and congratulations to all the riders, supporters and the organisation. We could have included so many more pictures in this brief report so don't forget to check our galleries. Thanks for the fantastic feedback about our work and the roadside banter.
Now how about next year........