Picnic PostNL add wave of new signings as key departures leave gaps to fill

Picnic PostNL have added a wave of new signings for 2027, with the Dutch team turning largely to young talent and riders from cycling's lower divisions to replace several departing names.

French sprinter Paul Penhoët, Belgian track specialist Jules Hesters, Jochem Kerckhaert, Bert Bolle and Louka Lesueur are among the latest arrivals, bringing the total number of new riders to eleven, including promotions from the development team.

Penhoët is arguably the most established signing. The 24-year-old joins from Groupama-FDJ United with two professional victories to his name, both dating back to 2023. Hesters, 28, arrives from Team Flanders-Baloise, bringing track experience and a background as a lead-out rider.

Kerckhaert makes the step up from continental team BEAT Cycling, while Bolle joins from VolkerWessels Cycling Team and Lesueur arrives from French amateur outfit Veloce Club Rouen 76. Both 22, they have yet to prove themselves at WorldTour level.

The arrivals come as Picnic PostNL prepare to lose several of their more established riders. Pavel Bittner is heading to Pinarello-Q36.5, Casper van Uden to Alpecin-Premier Tech and Nils Eekhoff to Decathlon CMA CGM. Fabio Jakobsen already departed for Visma | Lease a Bike during the season.

The changes come at a difficult time for Picnic PostNL, whose future at WorldTour level remains uncertain.

Both the men's and women's teams were notably absent from the UCI's initial list of applicants who had submitted all essential documentation for the 2027 season by the October 15 deadline. Picnic PostNL and Jayco AlUla were the two men's WorldTour organisations missing from the list.

The absence does not automatically mean Picnic PostNL will lose their WorldTour status, but teams that fail to meet registration deadlines face potential fines and further scrutiny. Under UCI regulations, riders may also have grounds to terminate their contracts early if their team fails to submit the required documents on time.

Picnic PostNL received only a one-year WorldTour licence for 2026, with extensions for 2027 and 2028 dependent on meeting financial requirements set by the UCI Licence Commission.

The team attributed its initial registration delay partly to complications involving its bicycle supplier Lapierre, whose parent company has faced financial difficulties. Picnic PostNL maintained that it was working towards securing its place in the WorldTour for next season. The UCI is scheduled to confirm the final registrations on December 8.

The organisation's finances have also come under scrutiny. According to NOS, Picnic PostNL accumulated approximately €19.5 million in losses between 2022 and 2024, although it returned to a small profit in 2025.

The team is also facing an independent investigation into its working environment following reports by NOS Sport and In de Waaier. The two outlets spoke to 71 current and former riders and staff members as part of their investigation into allegations of a culture of fear within the organisation. Picnic PostNL disputed the overall picture presented in the reports but commissioned an independent inquiry.

On the road, results have done little to ease the pressure. Picnic PostNL finished 30th in the 2026 UCI team rankings, the lowest position of any men's WorldTour team.

The latest signings show that the team are continuing to build towards next season despite the uncertainty. However, with established riders departing, largely unproven replacements arriving and their WorldTour licence still awaiting approval, Picnic PostNL face a difficult task even if their place at the highest level is secured.