Picnic PostNL problems worsen - Bike sponsor Lapierre in financial trouble as riders could soon be racing on different bikes
CyclingThursday, 13 August 2026 at 14:15
Picnic PostNL may well see their ongoing problems worsen as their bicycle sponsor's future has been threatened by financial worries. In a season that has seen their status as a WorldTour team due to disappointing performances, their UCI ranking most recently dropped to 29th - well below the race for survival.
French manufacturer Lapierre's parent company, Accell Group, has seen their activities suddenly cease with immediate effect. The parent company also includes well-known names such as Batavus, Koga, and Raleigh.
For Lapierre, their daily operations have not immediately ceased, but has now officially filed for reorganization with the court in Dijon to salvage its finances. The company says that it is not an announcement of bankruptcy, but is a legal step to avoid a permanent closure.
In an official statement, Director General William Perrier responded to the crisis as they seek to find a new investor. He said: "We will fight to save as many jobs as possible and keep this story alive in Dijon."
If Lapierre were to cease operations, both the men and women's teams use Xelius DRS models, making a change of equipment mid-season a logistically difficult move.
Difficult period for Picnic PostNL
Meanwhile, some of the team's marquee riders are already confirmed their exit ahead of the 2027 season, further compounding the loss of Oscar Onley to INEOS last season.
Last week, Fabio Jakobsen confirmed that he and the team had mutually agreed an immediate departure. Jakobsen leaves Picnic PostNL after a largely frustrating period that produced just one victory, at the 2024 Tour of Türkiye, while injuries, poor form and repeated struggles prevented him from returning to his former level.
With his contract originally due to expire at the end of the 2026 season, both parties instead opted for an early separation. The Dutchman is now a free agent and has been strongly linked with an immediate move to Team Visma | Lease a Bike.
Fabio Jakobsen has left Picnic PostNL
Bittner and Jakobsen depart team
Sprinter Pavel Bittner will also head to Pinarello Q36.5 while Casper van Uden is bound for Alpecin - Premier Tech.
23-year-old Bittner becomes another proven WorldTour-level addition to Tom Pidcock's team following the already-announced arrival of Mauro Schmid, who added a Giro d'Italia stage victory to his palmares earlier this season.
Bittner brings Grand Tour success of his own. He claimed his breakthrough victory on stage 5 of the 2024 Vuelta a Espana, beating Wout van Aert in a photo finish, and has since completed two editions of the Tour de France.
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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