Olympic champion Elinor Barker is hoping to make 2018 a family affair in Australia.
Barker, part of the winning team pursuit quartet in Rio last year, lined up alongside younger sister Megan in the women’s Classique at Prudential RideLondon.
Torrential rain was a world removed from a climate controlled velodrome but competing together is a key ambition for the Barker girls, who dream of becoming the first sisters to win a Olympic cycling medal together.
Three years separate the sisters but similar looks and a carbon copy determined attitude mean they are sometimes mistaken for twins.
Heinz and Herbert Richter won team pursuit silver together at the 1972 Games and the Wyld brothers – Harry, Lloyd and Percy – were bronze medallists in the same event back in 1928.
Tokyo 2020 remains the ultimate goal but first it’s next year’s Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast for British Cycling’s latest sister act.
“It’s fun having each other in races. We’re pretty competitive people anyway, so when you put the fact that we’re sisters in there, it means we are more competitive,” said Barker.
“We definitely want to both get selected for the Commonwealth Games, there won’t be rivalry but hopefully there might be a little bit of teamwork.
“It’s really nice having your sister at big events and it brings a lot of our family together as well.
“I’ve got some family in Australia and then other family all over the world, so they’re all going to try and convene at the Commonwealth Games.”
Meanwhile, Olympic teammate Katie Archibald insists she’s enjoying her time on the road before attention switches back to the track, with the European Championships in October followed swiftly by the Track World Cup in Manchester.
“I’m enjoying the road so much,” she said. “My next big thing will be the track European Championships in October but they’re still a few months away.
“However, I’ve got a few road races before then, with the Tour of Norway and Challenge Madrid, which is the women’s attachment to the Vuelta.”
Hannah Barnes was the top British finisher in 17th place as American sprinter Coryn Rivera took first place ahead of Finland’s Lotta Lepisto and Germany’s Lisa Brennauer.
