ROB JEBB, WHEELBASE.CO.UK AND JAMES DOBBIN, ARTIC PREMIER RT SET FASTEST TIME IN THE FRED WHITTON OF 5 HRS 46 MINS.
Photo: Jebb and Dobbin make a break on Honister pass.
Photographer:
Dobbin sprinting uphill
Photo Gallery 1 - Courtesy of Dave MacFarlane
Photo Gallery 2 - Courtesy of The Kirkstone Pass Inn
Photo Gallery 3 - Courtesy of Steve Fleming
This weekend saw the largest road bike sportive to hit the Lake District with a field increased from 1,000 to 1,200 riders tough enough to take on the infamous Fred Whitton Challenge on Sunday 10th May in it’s tenth anniversy year.
Riders headed out from the start in Coniston between 6am and 9am to tackle the now famous 112-mile course crossing the Lake District’s toughest passes of Kirkstone, Hostister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Cold Fell and finishing on Hardknott and Wrynose.
Local WHEELBASE.co.uk rider Rob Jebb and the James Dobbin Artic Premier RT set a new course record of 5 hours 40 minutes last year in sweltering conditions and they were back to do battle again. Both riders looked strong and were enjoying great cycling conditions in a cool 12c, with only light winds.
Recent Three Peaks Fell Race winner Jebb, WHEELBASE.co.uk looked strong and made his break on Honister Pass from the main bunch of Elite riders who left Consiton at 8.30am and set a formidable pace through the early stages of the Challenge.
The 2008 UK National Hill Climb Champion James Dobbin, Artic Premier RT jumped on the wheel of Jebb, WHEELBASE.co.uk and the pair battled it out over the remaining 66 miles at an average speed of in excess of 20mph. In a similar manner to 2008 neither rider broke despite hitting an atrocious hail storm on top of Wrynose Pass. The pair crossed the line together in joint first place – an impressive 14 minutes clear of third fastest rider Ben Bardsley, Keswick Bikes.
Participation in these ‘Sportive’ cycle challenges has risen massively in recent years and The Fred Whitton Challenge is number one on most British cyclists ‘must-do’ lists, with all placing selling out within 2 days of release.
The Fred Whittion has the well respected honour of being classed as Britain’s toughest sportive - “The Daddy of them all!!!” Cycling Weekly.
Top 30 results:
684 Rob Jebb Wheelbase.co.uk 5:46
885 James Dobbin Arctic Premier R T 5:46
745 Ben Bardsley Keswick Bikes .co.uk 6:00
747 Chris Hope Keswick Bikes .co.uk 6:05
313 Phil Davies Cyclewise 6:05
748 Andy Wrigley Keswick Bikes .co.uk 6:09
688 Ian Palmer Wheelbase.co.uk 6:10
983 Andrew Prince Lyme Racing Club 6:10
1125 Sean McColville Honister 92 6:11
938 Grant Law Honister 92 6:12
403 Matt Bridge London Dynamo 6:13
741 Simon Booth Keswick Bikes .co.uk 6:13
743 Martin Nicholson Keswick Bikes .co.uk 6:13
343 Lloyd Kellett Keighley 6:14
689 Paul Trott Wheelbase.co.uk 6:15
30 Nick Harmer Clifton York M 6:15
708 Dave Ralph Lakes Road Club 6:16
13 Stephen BottomleyCrosstrax 6:16
17 Richard Wilson Koxx U K 6:17
575 John Fettis Corley Cycles 6:18
908 Garth McColville Honister 92 6:19
790 Dieter Booth Breeze Bikes 6:21
255 Alan Goldsmith Hillbillies 6:21
884 Jim Peters Loughborough 6:23
691 Steve Clarke Wheelbase.co.uk 6:23
687 Paul Troughton Wheelbase.co.uk 6:23
936 Ian Leitch Independent Fabrication 6:24
891 Richard Houghtonkeswickbikes.co.uk 6:25
718 Stefan Macina Crosstrax 6:25
241 Jason Hemsley Crosstrax 6:27
Team WHEELBASE.co.uk
Team WHEELBASE.co.uk were out in force at the event, with Rob Jebb setting the fastest time and Douglas Mitchell being the first rider across the line in a personal best of 6.58.
684 Rob Jebb Wheelbase.co.uk 5:46
688 Ian Palmer Wheelbase.co.uk 6:10
689 Paul Trott Wheelbase.co.uk 6:15
691 Steve Clarke Wheelbase.co.uk 6:23
687 Paul Troughton Wheelbase.co.uk 6:23
229 Mike Toyn Wheelbase.co.uk M40 6:34
47 Doug Mitchell Wheelbase.co.uk M40 6:58
780 Tadek Czarnienki Wheelbase.co.uk 7:03
118 Nigel Furness Wheelbase.co.uk M40 7:35
694 Anthony English Wheelbase.co.uk M 8:20
14 Ray Morriss Wheelbase.co.uk M60 8:20
235 Matt Woods Wheelbase.co.uk M 9:19
480 Mike Arnold Wheelbase.co.uk M40 9:19
83 David Powell Wheelbase.co.uk M40 9:21
198 Rachael Dover Wheelbase.co.uk F 10:14
Race Organiser Paul Loftus and the team from Lakes Road Club have done a superb job of managing and developing such a major event, and bringing 1,200 riders plus supporters to the Lake District. Our thanks go out to them, plus all the competitors which made this such a monumental event!
