Tour de France organiser reaches deal to acquire the Fred Whitton Challenge sportive

Legendary Lake District sportive to be run by Human Race

A rider climbs Honister Pass, one of the early climbs in the Fred Whitton Challenge

(Image credit: Andy Jones)

One of the toughest events on the UK sportive calendar has been taken over by a subsidiary of Tour de France organisers A.S.O., it has been announced today.

The Fred Whitton Challenge, which covers 112 miles of gruelling Lake District terrain, has been run by the Lakes Road Club and local volunteers since 1999, but has now been taken over by Human Race, which is itself owned by the Tour de France organisers.

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Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.