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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- A very true statement made by Johan Bruyneel: "We don’t know for sure about Jonas, because he dropped out of the Tour de France, but he would never have come close to Pogacar. Maybe he would have finished second. He won the Giro in dominant fashion and the Vuelta the year before, but Visma wants to win the Tour." That's exactly what I've been saying the last six months. If Pogi races with Jonas, the most he can be is second... UNLESS... Pogi crashes out or makes a BIG mistake, which is not likely to happen. Either Bruyneel thinks the way I do or he reads my posts. Ad acta!!!PogiSloFans13-11-2026
- TADEJ POGAČAR !!! "Anatomy of a G.O.A.T." OK, that's great!!! I've been saying all along: Tadej Pogačar-Pogi is the G.O.A.T... period. Not only in cycling... but he's the greatest sportsman that ever lived !!! But let's take a look of what real foolishness looks like: We have many many fools, also on this site, saying that Pogi is "boring,"... he's making cycling "boring"??? I can't believe what's comming out of their deteriorating smelly mouths. So I guess Merckx, Hinault, Indurain, Fasto Coppi and Anquetil were also boring!?!? I guess Michael Jordan, Le Bron, Gretzky, Messi, Ronaldo, Shumacher, Novak Džoković, Federer, Rossi, Marquez, Phelps, Michaela Shiffrin, Venus Williams, Bolt, Lewis Hamilton... etc. were all boring. PS: Many cycling "fans" that think that way, have to get a brain scan. Ad acta!!!PogiSloFans13-11-2026
- Ayuso has had enough time. He's always going to be a mediocre to good cyclist... nothing special or astonishing. But he does have many excuses, just like Remco, but Remco delivers good wins on occasions, Ayuso doesn't. Ad acta!!!PogiSloFans13-11-2026
- I agree, Johan Bruyneel made big mistakes, he was involved in the biggest doping scandal in the history of sports... BUT NEVERTHELESS... Bruyneels analysis on bike racing and cyclists is among the best. That's a fact... period!!! I love listening to Spencer Martin and Johan on WEDU-THE MOVE PODCAST, but I don't care about Armstrong and Hincapie. They are both american bull shi***s who like to exaggerate and talk nonsense.PogiSloFans13-11-2026
- 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
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