I was coming down Wrynose just after the incident, we had to wait for the chopper to land and settle. I just hope this rider and the other who was injured earlier in the day will be okay. The weather didn't help and those descents were quite treacherous. Admirable work by the mountain rescue team and the Air ambulance crew. Speedy recovery to the riders.

To enter the "Fred" is simply a lottery with no consideration whatsoever given to rider experience or expertise. Even for an experienced rider on a perfectly maintained bike doing the route outside of the event on relatively quite roads, the extreme nature of the descents would make the route challenging - there are simply no other sustained descents like this in the UK. Why don't the organisers follow the example of the annual Ben Nevis fell race and ask to see experience of other events of similar difficulty safely and successfully completed before entry is even considered? Accidents can happen to any rider, but the more extreme the conditions, the more likely there are to happen to a less experienced rider.

I hope these two are ok. I was coming down Wrynose shortly after the incident very slowly and suddenly the back wheel started snaking. I think there was a small patch of oil or diesel on the road.

I too was held up on Wrynose whilst we awaited the chopper, then we had to dismount and walk around it; no easy feat in cleats on those gradients... I'm not local, but have a lot of experience cycling, and the skills required for some of these descents is more akin to mountain biking. I did see a lot of people without the ride skills to descend safely.

Wishing a speedy recovery to those riders

Its the hardest one day sportive in the country, their are plenty of warnings before entry to the race, its super supported by the marshals and ambulance crew etc, both riders were very experienced, accidents happen.The roads are slippy when wet sometimes conditions are out of everyones control.

The fred's organisation is on par with the Ironman organisation for safety and everything else and its run by a small organisation and self funded charity. Im glad to hear they are ok as I was one of the riders stopped at the top waiting to go down, which none of the riders minded as safety comes first, Wishing all the riders a quick recovery.

Whilst I hope the the riders who were injured make a full recovery I do agree about ability of some of the entrants. I was very dissapointed not to get an entry this year having completed for the past 6 years.
I appreciate that the organisers cannot accommodate everyone who wants to enter however it is unbelievable the amount of people who enter who dont really understand what they are signing up for.
Last year around 400 riders where not allowed to go any further than the last feed station - I dont know what it was like this year but my guess is there were hundreds of DNFs? whilst many more riders who could have completed the route where not successful in gaining an entry.
The organisers used to get accused of the event being a "closed shop" and understandly wanted the event to be open to more people however it now seems that any idiot can enter - putting other riders and road users at risk.
Some entrants complain about the weather - its called the lake district for a reason!
Some entrants complain about the terrain - its called the toughest sportive for a reason!
I wouldnt rant if the majority of entrants completed the course safely and Im not having a go at the organisers because they are excellent - I just wish people would use some common sense, read about the event so they underatand fully what they are taking on and if they are lucky enough to get an entry make sure they have trained and prepared properly to give themeslves the best chance to complete the ride - safely!

This is the organised day event - I understand that those who didn't get an entry for the event as it is organised can still do the "Fred" just not against other riders, but entirely against the clock - so if you were disappointed at not being able to be in the riders this weekend and you want to do it still, see http://www.fredwhittonchallenge.co.uk/four-seasons/ and book a room in Coniston and "do your thing!"
It's not the first accident of the "Fred" and doubtless won't be the last - nowt to do with organisation - it is what it is, that's why it's got the reputation it has. It's hard work uphill and hard work keeping control downhill. Blimey lots of folk struggle to do Honister, Wrynose and Hardknott on 4 wheels let alone 2! Good luck to the cyclists who were hurt, hope they get on their bikes again soon.

I was supporting my husband yesterday - not riding - and drove a short distance on the actual route to meet him at an agreed "feed stop". I was dismayed at the lack of care and respect a lot of car drivers had for the cyclists. This is typical behaviour on a sportive and something I've seen many times before on the Polka Dot route. There is a scary lack of awareness amongst most road users, of how to pass groups of cyclists safely. Nobody should be able to get a driving licence before passing an approved advanced cycling course, in my opinion. People who don't cycle, don't understand how vulnerable a cyclist is. Most people hadn't got a clue how to get past them and wouldn't even move over the white line in the road, despite this risking them clipping cyclists, if the line was a solid double, and they were just not prepared to wait either! I saw some mad behaviour.

But likewise some cyclists behaved stupidly too, refusing to go single-line when they heard a car coming up alongside or behind, often on the narrowest sections. What do they think they were trying to prove? Three abreast or more on those roads, with passing traffic was very risky. There were a lot of obviously inexperienced cyclists riding, some with very little practice of riding safely in a group, and some with a real attitude problem, which I witnessed, but for the most part, everyone took care, took it seriously and gave the steepest sections the respect they deserved.

The weather was typically Lakeland fare - wet, wet, wet, but apparently the seaward south-western section was dry most of the morning. My husband set off very early - at 6.00 am - and the roads were much quieter then, which helped. I stopped for a rider who was receiving First Aid having fallen on a very steep bend just over the top of Whinlatter. I am a trained first aider, but they had everything under control and were just waiting for the ambulance. But nobody else had stopped to even offer help, which was a bit rubbish, I thought. The organiser thanked me for stopping.

I hope everyone who was injured in any way yesterday makes a full recovery at the earliest opportunity. I'm still recovering my sight after an incident with a French driver last September in the Pyrenees left me with a fractured skull, fractured cheek-bone and serious damage to my left 3rd optic nerve. He pulled in front of me and then put his brakes on. And then he drove off. So I can talk about bad driving skills around cyclists with some authority!

I thought the whole event was really well organised, well-marshalled and throughly supported by ambulance and air ambulance crews as well as it could possibly be for a place that is generally wet, has sometimes poor and notoriously steep roads and that is also prestigious and popular, attracting more cyclists than I've seen since the T.D.F. and more cars and general visitors on a wet day than I've seen in rolling high summer elsewhere. Fred Whitton would be proud of you all. Well done...and please .... take even more care next time!

I understand the above comment but I do believe they were 2 experienced riders that came off, the people I saw riding recklessly were the ones racing the event

I am so sorry to read about the two accidents, and wish both cyclists well in their recovery.

We were there yesterday supporting our son. We were so impressed with the professionalism of the organisation both prior to and during the event (all volunteers - thank you so much), by the supportive approach shown by the whole community, and the positive attitude, patience and general camaraderie of the participants. This event, like so many, relies on personal preparation and gritty endurance. But no matter how much acquired skill, there are unpredictable issues of mechanical reliability, the weather and all those around you - riders or not. All this adds up to a degree of luck which contribute to the challenge and outcome in any sport.

Long may the event continue!

A fantastic event run by fantastic people, the ride is not a race it is a ride in memory of Fred Whitton sadly taken at the age of 50yrs by cancer. The monies raised goes to charity including the Air ambulance who do brilliant work as evidenced above.
Keep it as it is don't change anything, the route, the lottery and the admin. I have ridden it twice and been able to ascend all the climbs without walking a single step. A lot don't finish it and a lot miss out on getting a place that's what makes the Fred such a special ride. If I never get to ride it again I will cherish the ones I completed, cold, wet, tired but in one piece. I too saw both air ambulances land and the unfortunate riders who has come to grief. I hope they make speedy recoveries. In the 'song' Don't forget the sun screen there is a line that goes 'do one thing everyday that scares you' ...well yesterday it was riding the Fred that scared me...a great event run by great people

Plenty sour grapes on here. I was in this years Fred. I had never previously ridden a century ride, done anywhere near the same amount of ascent in one ride. Nor did i train for it(i had planned to, but circumstances changed and i didn't have enough time). The reason i entered was because i wanted to challenge myself. The unknown, the possibilty of failure. For me it was about finishing(10hrs34mins), for others it is about getting a good time. The way the event is organised and run(superbly) is what makes it so good and one of the reasons i had such a good day was the other riders and supporters having a good crack. If this was turned into an elitist event i would be concerned the atmosphere would be lost, with everyone going for a good time. Head down and no time for talking. *BOB* I volunteered to marshall the event last year to guarantee myself a place on this years event and will be doing the same next year. Maybe this could work for you if you don't live to far away.

I passed the cyclist on Wrynose just after it happened. My thoughts and best wishes go to both cyclists for a full and speedy recovery. This is the first year that I have ridden the Fred Whitton and have come away with the sense that it is one of the best organised events I have participated in, which includes two Etapes, many sportives and a couple of Tours. In my opinion the organisers did all they could to warn people of the dangers of the descents in advance and to slow people on the day. At the end of the day they do not ride the bikes for us and as cyclists we know that risk is part of the deal.

Best wishes to the two riders for a speedy recovery. The organisers of the Fred Whitton do an amazing job on what is a very very tough event, as do the Rescue Crews of the Lake District. I have ridden the event for the past five years and can not criticise the organisers or marshall's in any way, they do a fantastic job. The ride is possibly the most challenging in the UK with the terraine, road surfces and changing weather conditions. Safety is paramount and the onus is really on the riders to understand the risks with such a challenging ride and to go out there fully prepared, but even the most capable riders can have an accident. It was disappointing not to get a place this year especially having seen so many riders not finishing in the past few years, but the event needs to be kep open to everyone. I can't see the organisers to be at fault in any way, a super tough event, managed incredibly well, always a great atmosphere and a great part of the world.

As the wife of one of thoses injured riders can I just say he is a very experienced rider, and being a local lad has a lot of experience riding those passes. So please don't assume just because someone came off on a difficult section they can't be experienced. The organisers did a fantastic job as always and it is people's own responsibility to decide if they are capable of doing the event. Please don't start encouraging Molly coddling.
Thank you to all those who have been asking how he is...he's still in hospital but hopefully home tomorrow

I ride with one of the riders and he is a very experienced rider on and off road. I look forward to hearing he is back home and safe.

Here is to the next event and the challenge it offers to all riders

"I'm still recovering my sight after an incident......"

erm?

Should you be driving?

My apologies if you thought I was commenting about the injured riders, I was aware they were experienced and am very aware it can happen to any of us - as I said I hope they make a full recovery.
I just think people should be aware of the challenge they are taking on and should prepare properly for it as the number of people not finishing the event in my opinion is far too high.
Im aware that you can volunteer to get an entry however as a volunteer on the etape du dales for the past 10 years its not really an option for me.
It is an excellent event and the organisers are superb.

I was held on the Wrynose decent to wait for the helicopter and the from prespective situation was handled very well by the Fred team, police, mountain rescue etc.

The event is as tough as it comes. By definition the is an element of risk which we we were all made fully aware of and is part of the experience. We all entered of our own free will. I surmise that the chaps that got hurt would not change the oprganisation.

My best regards to the injured riders and I hope they make a speedy recovery and get back on the bike soon.

Don't have a go because you were not lucky enough to get an entry.

I am glad to hear that both riders are going to recover from their injuries. I too, have never taken part in this event. To be honest I had never heard of it,until someone mentioned it at work. Now as with most events there is more interest than places. I was lucky enough to get a place and like other popular events, I don't think you should expect to get a place every year.

I just think they ought to consider closing the high roads to cars at the crucial times. I followed the riders up to Honister from the Borrowdale road - a trip I've done many times - and it was a nightmare - I'm sure both from my point of view and the riders trying to deal with the extreme gradient and the rain/wind. I would have turned round (if possible) but it would have been very tricky going the other way too. I got caught by the air ambulance too and the organiser guy on the entrance to the slate mine was first class.

Hats off to the riders who were all brilliant to attempt it - but I think they could do with the extra safety of stopping vehicles on the pass(es).

People make their own choices. I hope they are both ok and im sure neither would consider anyone to blame. They are accidents. More elitist comments and berating the event organisation does not alter the fact that we cant start banning everything or adding rules. If you rode the route outside of the event on another day after not getting in and crashed no one would start analysing your experience or blaming people. Stop typing and go do. in fact got to dash....