‘Not a single question has been answered’ – Zonneveld fires back at Picnic PostNL boss with seven-point rebuttal

In a detailed response published on Substack, Zonneveld rejected several claims made by Spekenbrink in an interview with De Telegraaf, accusing the team manager of attacking the journalists rather than addressing the allegations.

The original investigation by NOS Sport and cycling podcast In De Waaier involved interviews with 71 current and former riders and employees. According to Zonneveld, that figure has since risen to almost 100, with nearly all additional accounts reinforcing the original findings.

The growing number of testimonies also forms part of Zonneveld's response to Spekenbrink, who had pointed to reactions from former riders Tom Veelers, Marcel Kittel and Kirsten Wild to challenge the portrayal of a culture of fear. Zonneveld questioned that interpretation, arguing that their comments did not undermine the wider body of testimony gathered during the investigation.

Zonneveld challenged Spekenbrink's claim that the team was given two days to answer eight questions.

"That's not true," he wrote, explaining that the journalists submitted 23 questions and allowed three days for a response.

He rejected suggestions that management had been denied an opportunity to respond, describing a visit to the team's headquarters in Deventer where the journalists were instead brought before approximately 25 employees.

Zonneveld claims he asked Spekenbrink more than 20 times to respond, offering anything from a short interview to a 90-minute podcast. According to his account, Spekenbrink declined and eventually left after two and a half hours.

Another point of disagreement concerned NOS journalist Nando Boers, whose previous access to the team had been questioned by Spekenbrink. He pointed out that Boers' book and documentary dated from 2009 and 2013, while the investigation describes increasing management control following the team's successes between 2016 and 2018.

Spekenbrink had also questioned Zonneveld's independence because of his position as sporting manager at BEAT Cycling, describing the Continental outfit as a rival organisation.

"I don't know a single rider who would choose, or has chosen, BEAT over Picnic PostNL," Zonneveld wrote, stressing that his contract explicitly prioritises his journalistic responsibilities.

Zonneveld further disputed suggestions that the investigation relied exclusively on former employees.

"We have also spoken to many current riders and employees. We just don't say who," he explained.

"Protecting sources is essential, especially because those sources fear the consequences."

Zonneveld said the journalists had examined confidentiality agreements threatening substantial financial penalties for employees speaking negatively about the team.

He also dismissed Spekenbrink's suggestion that In De Waaier was commercially motivated, pointing to two months of research and limited advertising.

Despite the dispute, Zonneveld maintains that the central allegations remain unanswered.

"Because so far, not a single question has been answered, and not a single question has been discussed," he wrote.

"Even in the article in De Telegraaf, it's about the form, not the substance."

He also questioned the value of Picnic PostNL's planned independent investigation, given Spekenbrink's insistence that the team's approach would not change.

Nevertheless, Zonneveld reiterated that both NOS Sport and In De Waaier remain willing to hear management's perspective.

"Come over, Iwan. The door is always open."