Team Picnic PostNL set to lose another one of its leaders - Who remains in the depleted World Tour roster for 2027?
Cycling
Team Picnic PostNL are having a brutal season, having achieved only one victory this year and sinking well below any other World Tour team in most competitive aspects. The future looks dire for the Dutch team as another one of its leaders, Nils Eekhoff, is reported to have agreed to join Decathlon CMA CGM Team in 2027.
Nils Eekhoff to join Decathlon
Decathlon is having a formidable transfer season. The signing of under-23 rider Aubin Sparfel has been confirmed; but what lies under the public eye is what's most impressive about the French team. Aside from positive indications that Paul Seixas may extend his contract - which currently lasts until the end of 2027 - the team has three riders that are said to have already agreed to join the team. All climbers.
Former Decathlon rider Ben O'Connor; Tadej Pogacar's domestique Pavel Sivakov and INEOS' Laurens de Plus are all suposedly set to join the French team next year, whilst announcements are likely to happen at a latter point in the fall. They should be joined by Nils Eekhoff, according to Wielerflits.
The Dutchman won the under-23 world championships in Yorkshire back in 2019, before being disqualified for extended drafting during the race in its earlier phases. Whilst that hampered his palmarès, it did not hide his true quality.
At the time, the then-called Team Sunweb was still a major player in the market, and a massive young talent hub. On that first year as a professional, Eekhoff joined the likes of Thymen Arensman, Felix Gall, Michael Storer and Ilan van Wilder before they would hit the prime of their careers - whilst the likes of Marc Hirschi and Jai Hindley rose to the top that very year.
Eekhoff's transition wasn't as smooth, although he nearly won the Dutch national title in his neo-pro year. His career has been more heavily marked by his victory in the 2025 Nokere Koerse, a semi-classic that perfectly put on display his talents as both a sprinter and a classics rider.
In 2026 the now 28-year old has struggled after an illiac surgery operation, which has prevented him from achieving his best form. Nevertheless, his talent hasn't gone unrecognized, and he will continue to be part of the World Tour in 2027.
The French team signed Tobias Lund Andresen and Olav Kooij this past winter, and a full leadout for the latter. Eeekhoff, a compatriot, should join this leadout train for the Tour de France stage winner.
Nils Eekhoff should join Decathlon CMA CGM Team in 2027
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Picnic PostNL down to the bare bones
The 2027 Team Picnic PostNL squad looks likely to be a level below that of 2026, in terms of quality. If the season has already looked complicated, with Casper van Uden taking its only victory, than this goal may be even more complicated as the Dutch rider has already been officially signed by Alpecin-Premier Tech.
The team's entire sprinter block has either departed or will leave at the end of the year. Pavel Bittner, its leader for the Tour de France, will join Pinarello - Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team; whilst the team's big investment Fabio Jakobsen has not reached the end of his contract, and became a Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider already now in August. Eekhoff's departure fully cements the team's current sprinter block, meaning new signings will be mandatory.
Last winter the team's eight signings revolved mostly around continental and under-23 riders, whilst for 2027, the team has development team riders Mees Vlot and Milan de Ceuster already confirmed. There are 16 riders under contract for 2027, from which only Max Poole - who has spent almost the entirety of 2026 out of action - can be termed a leader.
The team will struggle to have leverage to sign new leaders from the World Tour. Meanwhile, Frank van den Broek and Bjorn Koerdt, two of the team's other leaders, have not yet extended with the team and might be on their way out.
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- the headline is poorly written too. it makes it sound like their plan is to simply wait until he stops.mij13-11-2026
- It doesnt take a genius to understand that Pogi is 1 level above and Pogi is younger that Jonas, so Jonas will not win under ordinary circumstances. Pogi has to crack hard for Jonas to win. It doesn't matter whether you defend Jonas or not , facts remain facts. Jonas himself says his numbers are better than 2022/2023, so Jonas is more or less optimized and we are just see the stochastic variation due to other factors. I think he will retire along with Pedersen in WC denmarkabstractengineer13-11-2026
- They only raced each other during the 2026 Tour, but here's a few metrics to look at. Stage 3 (Granollers to Les Angles): Pogačar won the stage, finishing 2 seconds ahead of Vingegaard (2nd). Del Toro finished 24 seconds behind Stage 6 (Pau to Gavarnie-Gedre / Col du Tourmalet): Pogačar won solo, Vingegaard finished 2nd (losing 2:38), and Del Toro finished 3rd (at +2:57, finishing 19 seconds behind Vingegaard). Here, Jonas Vingegaard outclimbed Isaac del Toro by 19 seconds on the mountain stageawp13-11-2026
- your clinging to the past. Jonas was dropped by del toro many times last year and jonas never managed a climbing numers del toro did in dauphine last year -entire year. Trend is also evident theres no discussion your living in the past, its beent he same with jonas for many years now and only developing, meanwhile del toro is rising and developing greatly. This is all obvious stuff and im not even a del toro fan. No point discussing numbers or this i suspect you dont watch much now but rather think its 2022 still cause this aint hard.miguel13-11-2026
- We can go through metrics if you like, Del Toro, who I do admire and support, is not on the same level as Jonas just yet. You will see that in early 2027 if they have any crossover races. I do hope they both race the Giro. You are correct though, Jonas is getting older and will not be able to hand on much longer. I see 2027 as a good year for him. Obviously behind Tadej though.awp13-11-2026
- What wins? Are you LA operating under a pseudonym?mij13-11-2026
- My point is this - Tadej, Remco, Seixas are all the outliers. Many riders don’t hit their peak until 28. It’s way too early to write him off. And the pogi slo guy that hates him - he’s also immature. Ayuso needs time.mij13-11-2026
- Then you need to use ur eyes or head if you have cause del toro already dropped jonas two times and beat him in tdf stages already this year.. Del toro climbed(dauphine) better numbers than jonas did all year too. So ur feelings and wishful thinking doesnt amtter del toro himself has already surpassed jonas infact just facts. Its also very evident for anyone objective that Jonas is declining alot, its just the truth and super obvious.miguel13-11-2026
- None of those victories stand, so there's that,wrsty13-11-2026
- No surprise there; it is British Sycling, yes, with an S
Rafionain-Glas12-11-2026
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