'Things can go wrong' – Picnic PostNL launch independent investigation after 'toxic culture' reports

Picnic PostNL, the owner of the WorldTour and Women's WorldTour cycling teams, has announced plans to conduct an independent investigation into the team culture following reports of a toxic work environment in Dutch media. The investigation comes after Dutch media outlets, NOS Sport and In De Waaier, published a four-part podcast series based on interviews with 71 current and former employees, detailing allegations of an unsafe working situation at the team.

The team's sports director, Rudi Kemna, and owner Iwan Spekenbrink, have expressed that they do not recognize themselves in the stories published by the media outlets. The team has had limited success this year, with the men's team winning only three races, including one at WorldTour level, while the women's team has not secured a victory.

Former rider Martijn Tusveld, who was part of the team from 2018 to 2024, shared his experiences with NOS, stating that his position at the team changed after he criticized the team's tactics at the 2020 Giro d'Italia, and he later felt powerless. He also mentioned feeling anxious and considering harming himself due to the pressure.

Adriaan Helmantel, former coach of Tom Dumoulin, also criticized the team, saying it had become a dictatorship. In response to the allegations, Picnic PostNL has promised to take the findings of the independent investigation seriously and implement any necessary improvements. The team has listed fairness, healthy collaboration, and responsibility as the foundations of their sport and has promised to maintain continuity and job security for all team members.