Sports · Other Sports · 2 hrs ago
Riders and staff describe a culture of fear at Picnic-PostNL
A culture of fear at Dutch team Picnic-PostNL has been described by riders and staff who said they felt unsafe at work.
Martijn Tusveld said he became afraid to speak up after questioning team tactics during the 2020 Giro d’Italia.
He said he later kept quiet, experienced depression and at one point thought about harming himself.
Many people said they left feeling traumatised, according to confidential interviews with 71 current and former team members.
The team employs 120 people, and some said it was unclear whether a confidential adviser was available.
The accounts raise concerns about how the team treated riders and staff, including people facing mental-health difficulties.
Picnic-PostNL has launched an independent investigation after the allegations emerged.
An investigation by NOS Sport and cycling platform In De Waaier found that riders and staff at Dutch team Picnic-PostNL described a culture of fear and an unsafe workplace.
The outlets said they held confidential conversations with 71 people who work or worked at the WorldTour team.
Some former team members said they left traumatised, and one former rider described having depressive symptoms and thinking about harming himself.
The team has 120 employees, and many people were unsure whether it had a confidential adviser.
Picnic-PostNL said it would commission an independent investigation, according to Wielerflits.
- Who
- Riders and staff at Dutch cycling team Picnic-PostNL, including former rider Martijn Tusveld.
- What
- Riders and staff described a culture of fear and an unsafe workplace. The team said it would commission an independent investigation.
- When
- The investigation’s findings were reported on 15 October 2026.
- Where
- Picnic-PostNL, a Dutch WorldTour cycling team.
- Why
- Interviewees said the team’s culture left some feeling unsafe, traumatised or unable to speak openly.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
After the Giro d’Italia’s 18th stage, Martijn Tusveld questioned the team’s tactics during a meeting on the bus.
Tusveld experienced depressive symptoms and said he had thought about harming himself.
Tusveld emailed sports director Rudi Kemna, saying he felt that everything changed after the Giro meeting.
Tusveld stopped racing professionally.
NOS Sport and In De Waaier reported their findings about the team’s culture.
Wielerflits reported that Picnic-PostNL would commission an independent investigation.
- People interviewed
- 71 current or former team members
- Team workforce
- 120 people
- Tusveld’s Giro meeting
- 22 October 2020
- Tusveld’s career
- Stopped professional racing at the end of 2025
- Reporting date
- 15 October 2026
4 sources
Na onthullingen over angstcultuur stelt Picnic PostNL onafhankelijk onderzoek in
Wielrenners en staf melden angstcultuur bij Nederlandse ploeg Picnic PostNL
Angstcultuur bij Nederlandse wielerploeg Picnic-PostNL: 'Ik dacht eraan mezelf wat aan te doen'
What people are saying
I became anxious.
I thought: I’ll keep my mouth shut and say yes to everything.
There was no understanding when I was close to burnout. I felt alone.
I don’t believe in psychologists.