“It’s not made up” – Picnic PostNL rider admits parts of bombshell allegations ring true as crisis threatens WorldTour future
Cycling
The fallout from the bombshell investigation into Picnic PostNL has now reached inside the current team, with Frank van den Broek admitting that parts of the picture painted by former riders and staff are recognisable.
While several members of the present set-up have pushed back strongly against suggestions of a widespread fear culture, Van den Broek says the team’s rigid protocols and limited room for deviation are no secret.
“I understand where a lot of the stories come from. It’s not made up,” the Dutchman told Wielerflits during the Eneco Tour. “Especially the protocols, that has been known for years. But with a lot of things I wasn’t there, so then you hear a story from two sides and it is difficult for me to judge exactly where the truth lies.”
His comments come after more than 70 current and former riders and staff members were interviewed as part of the investigation by NOS Sport and In De Waaier into the culture within Picnic PostNL and its previous incarnations.
Martijn Tusveld and former coach Adriaan Helmantel were among those who spoke publicly, while Nicolas Roche has since added his own damning account of his three seasons inside the organisation.
Van den Broek said most of the stories were already familiar to him, including the existence of a previous dispute between Tusveld and sporting director Rudi Kemna. What he had not realised was how badly Tusveld says the experience affected him.
Romain Bardet and Frank van den Broek cross the line together at the Tour de France
“It was mainly about following things”
Van den Broek joined the WorldTour team in 2024 and says he knew adapting to the organisation’s way of working would be part of joining Picnic PostNL.
“When I came here, it was mainly about following things,” he said. “I adapted to that. But I knew that. With the experts I always have a lot of contact, but then the question is: what can actually change in the protocols or the personal approach for me? Often the conclusion is: this is how we do it and it is difficult to adjust. But I am an employee and I have no problem adapting to that.”
Teammate Tim Naberman has experienced the environment differently. The Dutchman, who has spent eight years within the team’s structure, says he has never felt unsafe and has always enjoyed being part of the organisation.
“If you don’t agree with it, then maybe it isn’t your team,” Naberman said. “Then you have to look for another team. Of course there may be things you disagree with, but it is their team and their company, so also their way of doing business.”
British sports director Phil West rejected the wider picture even more emphatically. “I don’t recognise myself in it at all, not at all,” he said. “The team has been nothing but supportive, and I have also challenged the team on certain points. We don’t always agree on everything, but that is normal, isn’t it?”
West also raised questions over Tusveld’s case, pointing to the length of his spell with the team and saying the former rider had wanted to stay when their working relationship came to an end.
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WorldTour licence now part of the fallout
Picnic PostNL has announced an independent investigation into its team culture while its longer-term WorldTour status remains unresolved.
The team does not yet have a WorldTour licence confirmed for 2027 and 2028. Wielerflits reports that the investigation sparked by the allegations is expected to have direct consequences for the ongoing licence application.
Van den Broek also acknowledged the potential impact on recruitment and sponsorship. “This will not help with finding sponsors and riders for next year,” he said. “But I have no reason to be really worried about it.”
Naberman pointed to the instability already caused by the collapse of bike sponsor Lapierre, while insisting Picnic PostNL remains committed to continuing at WorldTour level. “We know that the team wants to continue and that they still want to be WorldTour next year,” he said.
Head of Finance and Operations Marloes Poelman was unwilling to predict whether the investigation would ultimately affect the licence procedure. “That is difficult for me to estimate,” she said. “I hope not.”
KNWU considers further steps
The Dutch Cycling Union has also responded to the allegations and is considering whether action of its own may be required. “The signals emerging in the reporting regarding cycling team Picnic PostNL are very concerning,” said Wouter Bos, chairman of the KNWU Supervisory Board. “The experiences described by riders and staff members affect us and must be taken seriously.”
Bos said Picnic PostNL needs a thorough investigation into how the situation developed and what must change to prevent a recurrence.
Picnic PostNL has said it does not recognise itself in the overall picture presented by NOS Sport and In De Waaier, while accepting the seriousness of the experiences described. Its independent investigation will now run alongside the unresolved WorldTour licence procedure, with the KNWU separately examining whether further steps are necessary.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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