The Fred Whitton Challenge – one of the UK’s toughest and most iconic cycling sportives, famous for its relentless climbs and stunning (but brutal!) Lake District scenery. Could Si and Ollie conquer it?
Join them as they tackle this legendary ride, discussing the route, the history of the event, and whether British climbs really are the best. From final prep to the exhilarating start, they were ready for a big day out.
But the Fred Whitton doesn’t forgive easily! Watch as they battle their way up Kirkstone Pass and Honister Pass amongst a sea of fellow riders. Then, DISASTER STRIKES for one of them, and the wheels truly start to come off. The struggle is real!
Follow their entire Fred Whitton journey, the pain, the stunning views, the camaraderie, and see their final times revealed. If you love epic cycling challenges, watching presenters suffer (just a bit!), or want to know what the Fred Whitton is all about, this one’s for you!
⏱️ Timestamps: ⏱️
00:00 What Are We Riding Today?
00:42 The Best Climbs Are…. British?
3:15 Final Prep & Route Description
5:23 Go Time!
6:00 History Of The Fred Whitton Sportive
7:59 Top Of The First Climb – Kirkstone
10:05 Climbing Honister Pass – People Everywhere!
12:00 Disaster Strikes
14:15 The Wheels Come Off, For One Presenter
16:25 Will Ollie Make It?
19:00 The Run In
20:13 The Finish
21:15 The Final Times
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What do you think of how Ollie & Si did? 🔥
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25 Comments
What do you think of how Ollie & Si did? 🔥
what gearing you have on bikes please, looks like 36T rear, is the front cog 32T ? for climbing
Great entertaining video 🤩
Brilliant work guys, and great video
Si has become so synonymous with salt and vinegar crisps now I'm like Pavlov's dog, I salivate when I see him.
A pleasure riding with you guys. You smashed it 👊
Hats off to you, fellas, cracking times. I'm doing my first 100 mile sportive on the 31st of May, and I'm hoping to get done in under 8 hours.
Outstanding video – thank you and keep up the great work
Gents – a truly beautiful & uplifting video 🤩, what a day and superb times from both of you ! 🚀
I was marshalling the event (4am at the car park to get 1600 cars in 2hours- a slick event) and then support crew.
Got some great pictures of Si and Ollie who don’t mention the amazing Ed Clancy won and Jonnie Brownlee was not far behind.
Fab video and hopefully Si goes back next year to get his under 6 hours
Great video! Great job for you two! No posers there! I missed the details of the bikes and drivetrains.
Any of you GCN lining up for LEL2025?
Agree with your comment about Bluebells crushing Daffodils, so long as they are not the Spanish bluebells, in my personal view.
Brilliant, well done chaps.
What were your lowest gears?
Epic. Thanks for taking part and sharing.
The Fred is simply the best cycling event in the UK, did it in 2018 with the same weather – stunning! So well organised and the feeds stops were second to none. Hardknot is cruel but I did manage to get up there.
in order for me to complete this challenge I'll need a 36t/30t front chainring paired with an 11-42t chainring in the back. Thanks. haha
love the star wars reference, they used Thirlmere as backdrop
Brilliant video, brought back so many memories of the day with the amazing volunteers/marshalls all the way round including the Team XIII 'disco hilltop' (boy did I need to fill my bottles there – even after having stopped at the first food stop), unbelievable weather, and the utterly brutal Hardknott/Wrynose combo (which were more scary riding down than walking up).
I really should have ticked this off my bucket list before I turned 50 (& not waited until just before 60) but something that will live with me forever!
My first time riding it this year. So lucky with the weather. Did a little two-up into the base of Hardknott with Ollie! For how deep into the ride we were, Ollie was super strong. Blew myself up trying to do respectable turns to match his and suffered badly for it on Hardknott 😅
Amazing event. Tempted for next year but scared to roll the dice on the weather again… can't imagine that in the wind and rain.
Thanks for the video. The best and toughest sportive I've done. 8 hours 33 minutes was my time . Not bad for a 61 year old geezer
It's a great thing that GCN promotes cycling in Third World Country
Love to see the fueling strategy for the event
I was looking for Si’s time and 6:15 after cracking. 6:15!! That’s crazy fit. And Ollie is living a bonkers life as the “non-pro”. Chapeau to you both.