Finnish twin brothers, aged 71, have been killed in identical bicycle accidents along the same road two hours apart, police say.

"This is simply a historic coincidence. Although the road is a busy one, accidents don't occur every day," police officer Marja-Leena Huhtala told Reuters.

"It made my hair stand on end when I heard the two were brothers, and identical twins at that. It came to mind that perhaps someone from upstairs had a say in this," she said.

One twin was hit by a truck and killed while out cycling early on Tuesday on the west coast of Finland.

Before police had identified the body and informed family members, his brother was killed on his bicycle by a second truck a half-mile down the road.