I don't just think it's genetic. They were brought up to ride a bike from about 2 years old and racing was drummed into them. Where i lived before,a young bloke constantly had his 2 children out doing laps of the block while he followed them barking orders(encouragement). The dad is into that downhill mountain biking stuff. Not road racing i know,but it seems he wants to install cycling ability and awareness into his children which is a very good thing!
A brother and sister i know were very keen amateur cyclists and still do the miles, though more touring and commuting rather than racing. Their dad rode in the TdF in the early 1960's a few times. "Yes but he only came about 13th at best" someone once said to me. Only 13th in the Tdf!! my,how poor is that i sarcastically thought.
If you can't cope then you need to dope.
That's why i class myself as a'4th division cyclist'. My mum and dad were fit and healthy enough,but they just didn't do any exercise. I kind of take some credit for my daughter looking after herself that way. From day one i took her out walking (some might say hiking) and enjoying the countryside and fresh air etc. Though i didn't encourage her to cycle as i didn't want her to face the dangers on the road. We bought her a mountain bike,but i was worried every time she went out on it. Especially as she wouldn't wear a helmet,saying it flattened her hair.
But then the amateur isn't drafting a team mate and only cycling on the front for minutes/seconds at a time.
There's a funny scene in one of the Mr Bean movies where he rides past a race bunch on a sit up and beg bike.Slightly off topic but there's a you tube video where some guy dressed as a priest keeps up with some blokes in lycra...maybe fake but made me smile
