"Isn’t that a conflict of interest?" - Johan Bruyneel isn't convinced about part of Picnic PostNL allegations as team faces uncertainty
Cycling
Johan Bruyneel is skeptical about elements of the investigation into Picnic PostNL's team culture, questioning the motivation of one of the 71 former staff and rider accounts of the team's issues.
The Dutch team was subject of an investigation led by NOS and Thijs Zonneveld's podcast 'In de Waaier' which alleged that a toxic culture of fear was rampant in the struggling WorldTour team, who also recently missed the deadline to register for their 2027 licence.
With the team facing uncertainty about their financial backing for next season, the allegations directed at the management and actions of some sports directors were led by a handful of former riders and staff that came forward with their name rather than anonymously.
One account surrounded Martijn Tusveld's experience with the team as he claimed he was punished for speaking his mind on team tactics and subsequently missed opportunities to race for certain goals. Although he renewed his contract in subsequent years, he claimed that his experience led him to consider self-harm.
Picnic PostNL
Bruyneel questions 'conflict of interest'
Former team manager Bruyneel has pointed out a link between Zonneveld and Tusveld as he questioned both a conflict of interest in the investigation and also scrutinised Tusveld's account in the investigation.
"Zonneveld is the general manager of a Dutch cycling team, BEAT Cycling," Bruyneel said on in his podcast 'THE MOVE'.
"And one of the key witnesses—one of the few who came forward by name—is Martijn Tusveld. I’ve been told that he’s now the sports psychologist at BEAT. Isn’t that a conflict of interest?”
He added: “He’s been there for six or seven years and extended his contract by two years. Is it really that bad? Okay, if you don’t have any other choice, then maybe you have to sign on for another term."
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Picnic face uncertain future
Picnic have endured a difficult season as their UCI rankings have plunged and they lost their bike sponsor. The team may still submit their documents for a WorldTour licence, but acceding to Bruyneel, questions remain around the sustainability of the project.
“Even when Lapierre was still there, they had only received a one-year license, based on their financial situation. I don’t know what Lapierre paid, but we saw that they ran a loss of about twenty million over three years. A bicycle sponsor isn’t going to fill that gap.
“Right now, everything is so uncertain… Which brand would be willing to make that commitment? They first need guarantees that they’ll be allowed to race, and they don’t have those guarantees. Maybe it won’t be in the WorldTour. I’m thinking of a smaller brand. But right now, I don’t see a single brand that can solve their problems.”
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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Rafionain-Glas25-10-2026 - FYI. Pogi made his World Tour debut at the TDU in 2019. I remember it well because someone said watch out for Pogi as he did a good time up Corkscrew during training. Who would have thought he'd end up as the GOAT.Santiago25-10-2026
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- You know you can post all this on idlprocycling too with your account(s) don’t you? There’s a whole bunch more articles and people there to inform.Jumpyjohn25-10-2026
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