Fred Whitton Challenge

This year's Fred Whitton cycling event took place in glorious sunshine. 2,400 cyclists, 112 miles, 6 mountain passes. Here riders are just starting the climb from Buttermere village towards Newlands Hause after coming over Honister Pass.

The event is held in memory of Fred Whitton, racing secretary of the Lakes Road Club, who died of cancer aged 50 in 1998. It started in 1999 and has already raised over one million pounds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

First rider home today was Matthew Atkinson in a staggering 5:49:36. To me, this achievement seems super-human given the steepness of the hills, which include gradients of 1 in 3.