Published at 11:03, Tuesday, 15 May 2012

CYCLISTS from Furness, Millom, and the South Lakes showed the way during the annual Fred Whitton Challenge. TONY GREENBANK reports.

Title
Author
Copyright

Description

NEVER before have so many riders from Cumbrian cycling clubs taken part in the Fred Whitton Challenge, a 112-mile sportive which begins and ends at Coniston.

Barrow’s Lakes Road Club, Barrow Central Wheelers and Broughton Wheelers all had a strong turn-out at Sunday’s ride.

And Paul McKenny who rides for Barrow Central Wheelers clocked a tremendous nine hours – this after swimming Coniston Water on Friday, and running the 40-mile K2B on Saturday.

Spectators watched the ribbon of Lycra clad riders funnel their way up the zig zags of steep passes, rattle their way noisily over cattle grids past impervious fell ponies grazing by open fell roads and cope with the flow of Sunday traffic in (usually) good-humoured “stride”.

On Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Hardknott and Whinlatter passes, spectators as well as riders had to battle against strong winds.

There were – as usual with a massed cycle event – bumps and spills.

Some were caused by minor collisions; others when riders found the angle too steep and had to dismount. Cleated cycling shoes skidded on tyre-scrubbed asphalt and riders and bikes toppled over with a clatter.

It was an occurrence that happened especially on the killer gradients of Hardknott.

Riders found Cold Fell between Ennerdale Bridge and Calderbridge the toughest section as they fought against a head-on wind, sometimes almost slowing to a standstill.
Never were the towers of Sellafield seen with more rejoicing; “It meant our ordeal on Cold Fell was nearly over,” said a rider from Roose.

William Wordsworth’s father died on this wild moor from hypothermia, and at least one rider succumbed to this ailment at Calderbridge and had to be wrapped in a tinfoil blanket.

Now in its 14th year, this annual “sportive event” is rated as the most popular of the 100 or so sportives in Britain.

Places were booked within 12 hours when the entry forms first appeared on the internet.

Organiser of ‘the Fred’ Paul Loftus, from Foxfield, said more than twice as many riders applied as could be accommodated.The event caters for cyclists of all persuasions; it is not classed as a race. Times have been trimmed below six hours in recent years. Once again Rob Jebb from Staveley, near Kendal, had the leading time of 5 hours 59 minutes, a very similar time he has achieved previously.

This was less than 24 hours after he came second in the British Fell Running Championship Race held in Northern Ireland on Saturday.

Hot on his heels was Andy Sudell from Barrow’s Lakes Road Club who came in fourth – with a time of six hours 11 minutes.

The challenge is run in memory of Fred Whitton, who was the Lakes Road Club racing secretary and died of cancer aged 50. It was the first “sportive” in England. Now there are more than 100 such events.

Paul Loftus said, “This was an incredible day given the high winds. These gave a boost to riders on Hardknott, but on Cold Fell they were head-on and every rider’s nightmare.

“It was an absolutely special day, marred only by a couple of small accidents. No one had to go to hospital.

“The members of the Lakes Road Club deserve an accolade for all the work they have put in to make things run smoothly, and it is all voluntary work.

“Received opinion today is that this has been the best Fred Whitton Challenge yet.

“Sportive events are tremendously popular on the continent, and their appeal has now caught on in the UK.

“But the Fred Whitton is easily the toughest with its exacting climbs and descents of the passes.

“The standard of riding is improving year by year. Riders are becoming more aware of how to get the best out of their gears, and their skill is much higher.”

Last year, the event raised a record £80,000 for charity.

The two main charities to benefit from the event are Macmillan Cancer Support and the Dave Raynor Fund.

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk