From gravel grinder to Grand Tour climber? Team Picnic PostNL unveil intriguing new duo for 2026

Team Picnic PostNL have moved to strengthen their roster ahead of the 2026 season, unveiling two promising signings with markedly different paths into the professional peloton — Italian climber Mattia Gaffuri and French all-rounder Henri-Francois Haquin.

Both riders will step up from the continental ranks next year, with Gaffuri signing through to 2027 and Haquin joining on a one-year deal.

A self-described “diesel climber” and relative latecomer to the sport, 25-year-old Gaffuri has caught attention across the European scene after standout results on both gravel and tarmac. The Italian was runner-up overall at the Tour de Beauce and took third at the Oberösterreich Rundfahrt before finishing fifth at the Italian national championships, where he played a pivotal role in delivering the title for his teammate.

“What really attracted me to Team Picnic PostNL is the attention to detail and the strong focus on long-term rider development,” Gaffuri said. “The team’s scientific approach, from training to equipment, is something I really appreciate — especially because I’ve also worked as a coach myself in recent years.

“I’d describe myself as a climber, more of a diesel type with a strong engine, and I know I still have room to grow when it comes to race craft. My goal is to become a rider who can target results in smaller stage races, while also being a reliable support for our finishers in the mountains.”

Head coach Rudi Kemna believes Gaffuri’s unconventional path could prove an asset: “Mattia’s story is quite a special one. He’s a latecomer to the elite level and comes from the gravel scene, where he caught our attention. His numbers are outstanding, and his work at the Italian Championships was crucial in his teammate’s victory. In the coming years, we see him developing into a rider who can feature in the finales of the Ardennes Classics and play a major support role in Grand Tours.”

Alongside the Italian comes 22-year-old Henri-François Haquin, who rose through the French amateur scene with CC Étupes before earning his first taste of pro racing this season. He impressed on home soil with victories at the Tour de Moselle and Tour Alsace, and even made the breakaway at Liège-Bastogne-Liège on debut — evidence of both endurance and ambition.

“I’m really excited to be joining Team Picnic PostNL,” said Haquin. “It’s the most beautiful opportunity of my career so far. For now, I see myself as a rouleur-puncheur. I have a bit of a sprint on that terrain and I don’t mind a hard day out on the short hills. In this coming year I just want to learn as much as possible and give my all for the team.”

Kemna described the Frenchman as “a real top talent with a huge engine and plenty of room to grow.”

“He’s the kind of rider who can be part of the early breakaway in the spring classics and still be there deep into the finale. We don’t rule out that he could develop into a sprinter — he has the power, and if we can help him master the finer details, the potential is there.”

With Gaffuri’s climbing engine and Haquin’s versatility, Team Picnic PostNL continue to balance raw potential with scientific precision — a combination that has already made them one of the sport’s most intriguing development success stories.