"We aren't on vacation" - Picnic PostNL veteran Warren Barguil dismisses widespread criticism
Cycling
Over the past week, an investigation from NOS and In de Waaier has revealed lots of negative feedback from former figures of Team Picnic PostNL and a culture of abuse. Some riders have come out backing up the statements whilst others have reported the opposite. Warren Barguil, as one of the team's veterans, has backed it up.
"Unfortunately, an article was recently published that has caused us a great deal of pain," Barguil said recently, as reported by Wielerflits. The timing of the publication also put the Dutch team in an even more complicated position, only weeks after it had been rumoured to potentially be stepping away from the World Tour.
"Specially during what is already a difficult period, as we fight for the team's future and search for sponsors". The Dutch team has been at the bottom of the World Tour standings, barely making it through the Top30 of the UCI rankings, behind almost the entirety of the ProTeam contingent.
The team, formerly a host to generational leaders such as Tom Dumoulin, Marcel Kittel and Michael Matthews, many of which ended their contracts prematurely.
Warren Barguil is a key part of Team Picnic PostNL
Barguil returned to Team Picnic PostNL
The team has had a history of leaders leaving the team throughout the past decade, a portrait of an environment that was not ideal. But what exactly was lacking was not fully understood. The publication helped clear it, with statements from multiple figures from many different years.
But one rider that was unbothered by the team's way of functioning was Warren Barguil. The Frenchman turned professional with the team in 2013 and became one of the best climbers, winning two stages at the Vuelta a España on his neo-pro year; two mountain stages and the KOM jersey at his final Tour de France with the team at the time in 2017.
He then joined the former Arkéa Samsic team, returning to his home in Bretagne. After the team's end in 2023, he returned to Picnic where he has stayed since, being an important experienced face in a team packed with young riders.
"I am not here to attack this article, but rather to share my own story about this team. The team gave me all the time I needed to prove myself among the under-23 ranks before making the step up. I discovered a structure there that was well ahead of its time, particularly when it came to the sprint train," the 34-year old recalls.
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"We aren't on vacation"
And upon wanting to return to the team in 2024, he was welcomed with open arms. Neither at the time or currently did the Frenchman experience an issue. "Iwan (Spekenbrink, ed.) said to me back then: 'You’ll be back.' And I did come back. If the management had been toxic, I never would have returned," he explains.
"As in any company, there are rules and obligations. Like it or not, we aren't on vacation. Personally, these requirements have helped me grow as an individual," he admits. "As riders and staff, we want to put this season behind us and work together to build a new foundation for the future."
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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