"Whether you were menstruating was never a question": Another former rider speaks out over medical neglect and toxic culture at Picnic-PostNL
Cycling
Professional cyclist Esmée Peperkamp has publicly detailed the physical and psychological consequences she says she experienced during her time with the Picnic-PostNL women's team, alleging that medical concerns were overlooked, restrictive protocols took precedence over her well-being and riders were afraid to speak out.
The 29-year-old Dutchwoman rode for the team, previously known as DSM, from 2021 to 2025. She initially spoke anonymously about her experiences, but has now decided to go on the record. In an interview with Dutch media, she explained that fear of the consequences had prevented her from telling her story earlier.
“I was afraid of the reactions,” Peperkamp said when asked why she had decided to identify herself. “I want to get rid of the burden I carry, and I also feel that I can help the people around me with my story.”
She described the impact of keeping her experiences secret as something that continued to affect her life. “It gnaws at me. It was something I had to keep secret, something that has affected my life over the past few years. And it still affects me. My health is not very good, and it was difficult to explain to others how it had come to this.”
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Peperkamp describes prolonged health problems and inadequate medical monitoring
According to Peperkamp, she has not menstruated since 2021 and developed relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) during her time with Picnic-PostNL. The condition can occur when an athlete's energy intake is insufficient to meet the demands of training and normal physiological functions.
“My health is still deteriorating because I still don't produce enough hormones,” she said. “If you don't produce enough hormones, your immune system deteriorates, making you more susceptible to infections.”
Peperkamp believes the way the team handled her health concerns made the situation worse. “That made it worse. For example, whether you were menstruating was never a question.”
She said the team conducted annual health checks but did not check whether her hormone levels were normal. “This could have been prevented,” she argued, describing the medical monitoring as “below par.”
When she sought changes to her bike fit to alleviate the pain, she said she was told to wait until she could see a bike fitter. In the meantime, the response was: “Just get used to it.”
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“I got very sick”: difficulties with team nutrition
Peperkamp said the team's prescribed sports nutrition was another source of difficulty. She explained that it took three years for her to be diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome and lactose intolerance, during which she struggled to tolerate the energy bars, gels and sports drinks she was expected to consume.
“I got very sick. So nauseous that I couldn't eat anymore. I also threw up. I could feel ill for days and then I ate very little,” she said.
According to Peperkamp, the response when she reported these problems was again that she should get used to the products.
She recalled that some team soigneurs tried to help by giving her regular isotonic drinks or water. However, she said drinking water was sometimes at odds with the team's nutrition protocol. “For me, it was very bad. I couldn't handle the sweetness because I felt so sick,” she explained.
She said she did consider leaving the team, but was afraid to do so. “You try to survive, to get yourself noticed by other teams, so you can still keep your dream alive. That people don't listen to you and that decisions are made for you that ultimately aren't good for you.”
Peperkamp’s account follows a joint investigation by NOS Sport and In De Waaier, which surveyed 71 current and former riders and staff members who described an oppressive, regimented working environment and a "culture of fear" within the Dutch squad.
The widespread revelations have prompted the team to commission an independent external investigation into its management practices and internal culture.
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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