From colon cancer patient to cycling world championship podium - aged 85
A man who overcame possibly his life's greatest challenge - bowel cancer, aged 85 - has achieved his ambition to ride in a world championship bike race.
John Jones underwent a colonic resection operation at Hillingdon Hospital in May 2025. Consultant colorectal surgeon Alistair Myers, (pictured back row, third from left, with the theatre team) performed the operation, using the hospital's Da Vinci surgical robot.
In October 2025, Mr Jones competed in the Bolero UCI World Gravel Championships, in Zuid-Limburg, Netherlands, in the 85+ category, completing the 81 km course in 4hr 11min 30s.
Already a keen cyclist, having competed in the World Road Cycling Championships over-80s category last year, Mr Jones switched codes to take up gravel cycling at the age of 85. He won the UK over-85s category and qualified for the Netherlands race.
He said: “My post-cancer challenge was to ride in the World Championships which I achieved. I was supported by my wife Betty, my son, daughter and three of my grandchildren, and they all were pleased with my achievement.”
Mr Jones paid tribute to his surgeon for helping him achieve his goal.
“I was on the podium in second place (of two entrants aged 85) but at least I was there, with the result only achieved thanks to your skills and support.”
Mr Myers, also a keen cyclist. said: “The benefits of minimally invasive surgery have been evident for some time and are even more pronounced since the introduction of robotic surgery in 2023.
We are hoping to expand the robotics program with a second system in 2026-27 and I am immensely proud of what the whole team at Hillingdon have achieved
“We are hoping to expand the robotics program with a second system in 2026-27 and I am immensely proud of what the whole team at Hillingdon have achieved.”