KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY

Given that genetics plays a role in determining cycling ability to an extent, it’s unsurprising that the Yates twins are not the only brothers to participate in cycling at the highest level. In the WorldTour, there are currently ive more pairs of siblings. Peter and Juraj Sagan ride for Bora, Vincenzo and Antonio Nibali for Bahrain, José and Jesus Herrada, and Nairo and Dayer Quintana for Movistar. The Izagirre brothers are split - Jon rides for Bahrain and Gorka for Movistar (meaning that last year, Movistar had no fewer than three pairs of siblings). However, none of these families can compete in numerical terms with the Druyts sisters, who all currently represent the Sport Vlaanderen team: Kelly, Jessy, Demmy and Lenny. On the men’s side, historically only the Simon brothers, Pascal, Régis, François and Jérôme, who rode in the 1970s and 80s, can match that. The most successful siblings in recent cycling history have been the Schleck brothers - they were the irst ever to share a Tour podium, when they were second and third in 2011.