Thus far, Team Picnic PostNL kept low profile on the transfer market. But with the embargo lifted on Monday, riders were allowed to officially communicate their transfers into the team. The first five new names are already known. Among them are Giro stage podium finisher, French amateur champion and a track World Championship medallist.
Team Picnic PostNL have not had a good 2026 season. The Dutch WorldTour team finished in an abyssmal 30th position on the yearly UCI teams ranking, 6,500 UCI points off the closest WorldTour lineup, and beaten by 12 ProTeams, including smaller ones such Solution Tech NIPPO Rali, Euskaltel-Euskadi or MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort.
Ahead of 2027, the Dutch team faces a complicated task of bouncing back from the forgettable season, especially since their points-leader Pavel Bittner is leaving to rival team together with one third of Picnic's 2026 points.
However with a tainted reputation, even more so in the light of recent "culture of fear" allegations, the negotiation position this year was not very strong.
Still, Picnic put in its best effort to build as competitive team as possible. At the moment, we know of five new arrivees; Louka Lesueur (VC Rouen 76), Paul Penhoët (Groupama - FDJ United), Jochem Kerckhaert (BEAT CC p/b Saxo), Jules Hesters (Flanders-Baloise) and Roy Hoogendoorn (Metec-SOLARWATT p/b Mantel).
Paul Penhoët in action
As three of the new recruits come from continental scene, it does not take a cycling expert to identify that these signings are not going to immediately change the dire situation at Picnic PostNL.
On the other hand they should not be underestimated. Following a similar pathway as Kerckhaert, Frits Biesterbos joined Picnic from BEAT CC p/b Saxo a year earlier, and made headlines at the end of this season with a sensational victory over Paul Magnier at Tour of Guangxi.
Headline signing comes from France
Paul Penhoët is in any case the biggest name on its way to Picnic PostNL. After four seasons at Groupama FDJ - United, the 24-year-old sprinter parts way with the team in which he grew up.
Penhoët has already enjoyed better seasons, but his podium in Giro d'Italia stage 21 sprint confirms that his talent is not gone. The winner of two professional races in his career should take up the role of leading sprinter at Picnic PostNL in 2027 alongside Biesterbos.
Speaking of sprints, the arrival of Jules Hesters might prove even more impactful. The successful track cyclist knows how to hold his own also on road. In 2027, he should become a key link in Picnic's sprint train, ideally propelling Biesterbos or Penhoët towards top results.
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Investment in youth
This is not the end to Picnic's new recruits yet. At this point, it is considered almost a certainty that climbing duo Matteo Vanhuffel - Jorgen Zomermaand should secure a WorldTour promotion in 2027.
Especially the Belgian rider Vanhuffel has left a great impression this season with podium finishes at Tour de l'Avenir and Alpes Isere Tour. The 20-year-old already proved his readiness for next step with 9th place overall at Vuelta a Burgos.
Zomermaand has been slightly in his shadow, but with 5th place at Tour du Rwanda, 7th at Alpes Isere Tour and 10th at Tour de l'Avenir, the Dutchman is also an interesting prospect.
And Picnic PostNL doesn't stop there. It's development programme once again interested interesting faces, Belgian classics rider Stan Vernaillen, Czech sprinter Daniel Kubena and Dutch climber Daan Hogenelst have already committed their future to Picnic's development team.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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