'My friends think I'm completely mad' – 84-year-old scales Alpe d'Huez for charity

At 84 years old, Anne Jones has accomplished a remarkable cycling feat by conquering the iconic Alpe d’Huez, one of the Tour de France’s most demanding climbs. This latest challenge follows her successful ascents of Mont Ventoux and the Col du Tourmalet over the past two years. Despite her age and a recent bout of Lyme disease, Jones completed the 14-kilometre climb in three and a half hours, stopping regularly to catch her breath and take in the scenic waterfalls along the route. Her determination and enthusiasm remain undiminished, as she expressed a willingness to tackle the climb again. Jones’s ride was part of a charity effort to raise £21,000 for children affected by the conflict in Gaza, with a symbolic target of £1,000 for each of the 21 hairpin bends on Alpe d’Huez. She has already raised £16,000 for this latest challenge, contributing to a total of over £56,000 raised across her three mountain rides. The ride was made even more poignant by the presence of two para-cyclists from Gaza, Alaa al-Dali and Mohammed Asfour, who joined Jones on the ascent after having to evacuate their homes due to Israeli airstrikes. Their participation highlighted the human rights focus of the charity, Amos Trust, for which Jones is raising funds. Jones’s cycling journey began in childhood and was rekindled in her fifties through charity rides, including multiple London to Paris trips. She trained for Alpe d’Huez by practising on Surrey’s Box Hill, learning to manage gears and pacing on challenging terrain. While her family has been supportive, many of her friends regard her ambitions with a mix of admiration and disbelief, often questioning the wisdom of such strenuous activity at her age. Jones challenges conventional attitudes towards ageing, emphasising the importance of hope and resilience rather than succumbing to physical decline. Looking ahead, Jones has no immediate plans for another mountain climb but is considering an annual peace ride for Gaza and has been invited to join a fundraising trek in Morocco next spring. For now, she intends to focus on fundraising, painting, gardening, and spending time with loved ones after months of intensive training. Her achievements stand as a powerful testament to the spirit of endurance and the impact of sport in raising awareness and support for humanitarian causes.