"I feel both vindicated and angry" - British rider recalls old wounds and reaffirms 'destroyed careers' at Picnic PostNL
Cycling
The extended reports of severe pressure and intimidation within Team Picnic PostNL have led to a lot of feedback from past and present riders. Molly Weaver, a rider for the women's structure a decade ago, spoke out - in hopes of reaffirming that the criticism of the team had a strong basis behind it.
"Last week the news broke that team Picnic PostNL (formerly known as Liv Plantur/Sunweb during my years with them) has a problem. I think the term ‘culture of fear and distrust’ has been used, so we’ll call it that," Weaver wrote in an Instagram post.
Weaver, 32, was part of the then-called Team Liv-Plantur / Team Sunweb from mid-2015 to 2017, but within a year of joining the team, she was already experiencing major issues with how the team looked to control her professional and personal life.
"I feel both vindicated and angry," Weaver admitted. "Those who have known me since my racing days will know that I wrote a number of articles, published in what was then Cycling Tips, exposing much of the same in 2016," she explained.
"I don’t have anything to add to what I said back then really, and opening up old wounds isn’t something I particularly want to do".
Molly Weaver was part of the now-called Picnic PostNL structure from 2015 to 2017
Weaver refuses idea of lies within Picnic PostNL report
Having been on the inside, the British rider assures that the 71 reports from within the Dutch team - male and female - had a basis to it, and that those who neglect it from personal experience do not represent them.
"However, I’ve seen a lot of posts from riders and staff both past and present denying the allegations and calling those who have spoken out liars. The same thing I was called all those years ago".
"I’m not sure what motive there would be for fabricating stuff like this, as there’s really nothing to gain. From my personal experience I outed myself as well, laid bare issues that would taint me, and pretty much signed away any chance of working in the women’s peloton again".
One bad apple is enough to wreck team dynamics
Weaver would race on until January 2018, retiring months after her departure from the Dutch team - at age 23. She acknowledges that the majority of her teammates and management posed no problem, but a few specific characters 'spoiled the barrel'.
"So I’ll not be naive enough to do that twice, and instead I’ll just say that I stand with anyone who was in any way harmed by this team," she reaffirmed.
"It was by no means all bad, and the people who were a part of the organization weren’t all bad either. I have some great memories from back then, and was surrounded by lots of amazing people".
"There are stories from both sides that paint a picture, but one bad apple spoils the barrel and this system clearly created plenty. You can’t set out to control people at all costs and then be surprised it comes at a price".
Read also
Weaver ultimately suffered throughout her stint on the team, and has no fear in saying that the structure has destroyed careers:
"It wasn’t all of us and it wasn’t all the time, but just because you weren’t the victim of something it doesn’t mean that everyone else is lying. It most likely means that you were just really lucky. Destroyed careers, and damaged minds and bodies are more than just a headline or a debate in the comments of a post on social media".
Weaver's account is only one more from a team that has seen dozens of past and present figures come out and speak of its issues. Former rider Nicolas Roche said the management was not cut out for cycling.
Ramon Sinkeldam's open report revealed of riders told to brush off mental health support; told it wouldn't be smart to become a father; and of the lack of congratulations after winning at the highest level.
"How people are treated matters. The scars you leave on others matter," Weaver lamented. "We can all learn from this, and we can all push for positive change. I hope that’s what comes next for those involved, as I did back then".
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Dont even need to be a fan of him or them to understand they developed pogacar into the greatest cyclist ever, easily too. If anyone say what you say, its just fanboys w/to much emotions and free time dont worrie. Del toro overall development and status overall now is mighty impressive too. Just a ridiclous teammiguel28-10-2026
- So are all the Lance-haters going to show up and point out that these guys were all doped to the gills during the EPO era? (not sure about the last one)Occam28-10-2026
- More pile-on from the usual suspects. Cycling is too hard.Occam28-10-2026
- You're saying: "(pogi best ever...and del toro..) ... Good years ahead, cycling is great now." I think the same. Pogi is most likely the greatest cyclist of all time, but we have many many fools, also on this site, saying that Pogi is boring, he's making cycling "boring"??? I can't believe what's comming out of their deteriorating bad breath mouths. So I guess Merckx, Hinault, Indurain, Fasto Coppi and Anquetil were also boring at their time!?!? PS: Many cycling fans that think that way, have to get a brain scan. Medication nowadays is quite advanced.PogiSloFans28-10-2026
- That's also true.PogiSloFans28-10-2026
- Oh come on .every country has road furniture .look at Holland .nightmare. every stage of the TDF has danger that is why Vin crashed out.If you look at the race with a health and safety outlook for everything why bother racing.cav crashed out in a sprint finish on wide open road so the argument holds little water.paultryan200228-10-2026
- This will be Remco's only chance that I see to win a tour. If he doesn't do it in 2027 he never will based on his age and upcoming new talent in the pro ranks. But he's not going to do it, Seixas is going to leapfrog him in 2027, unless he crashes out or is sick.awp28-10-2026
- If Seixas has the same development he did from the first of 2026 until the end of it, he is one of the Tour favorites in 2027. I think Tadej is obviously the guy to beat but Seixas should slot right in there with him.awp28-10-2026
- People forget Jonas can TT but it's been a few years since he's had a good result. I feel like he is going to come back with some anger this year. But he may retire, who knows.awp28-10-2026
- They had no chance anyway until Jonas crashed out, he was looking better and better.awp28-10-2026
Loading
1 Comments