Southland twins Ollie and Lily Keast have been named in the New Zealand team for the 2026 UCI Junior World Track Cycling Championships.
Southland twins Lily and Ollie Keast can lay claim to a remarkable feat, with both preparing to ride on the world cycling stage at the same time.
The twin brother and sister have been selected in Cycling New Zealand’s 13-strong team to line up at the 2026 UCI Junior World Track Cycling Championships in Limburg, Belgium.
The team – which includes a mix of endurance and sprint riders – was announced on Friday in a proud moment for the Keast family, and the perfect 50th birthday present for mother Nicola on Sunday.
The siblings compete nationally for Canterbury, but both are based and schooled in Southland – Lily at Central Southland College and Ollie at Southland Boys’ High School.
The Keast twins were both prominent at the recent National Track Cycling Championships in Invercargill, which included Lily breaking the Oceania U19 time trial record.
The focus now switches to preparing for UCI Junior Track World Championships, which will run from August 19 to 23.
Men:
Remi Dalton (Counties Manukau), Cooper Nilsson (Te Awamutu), Jack Allan (Counties Manukau), Oliver Keast (Canterbury), Riley Crampton (Canterbury), Alex Botha (Counties Manukau).
Women:
Minnie Collins (Manawatu), Mia Pepper (Counties Manukau), Eliza McKenzie (Canterbury), Jesse Thomson (Canterbury), Lily Keast (Canterbury), Hazel Gardner (Te Awamutu), Neve McKenzie (Counties Manukau).