'This isn't a Club Med vacation': Barguil defends Picnic PostNL amid toxic culture storm

In a statement posted to Instagram, Warren Barguil reflected on what has been a challenging campaign on the bike for Picnic PostNL, who have picked up three victories and fallen to 30th in the UCI team rankings. 

Two of those victories have come in recent weeks via Pavel Bittner at Paris-Chauny and Frits Biesterbos who managed to outsprint Paul Magnier and Olav Kooij on stage 2 of the Tour of Guangxi last week. 

Barguil praised the performances of the duo and admitted he hopes the recent successes can provide a springboard for the Dutch team to kick on next season. 

“It has been a complicated season for me and for the entire team. Fortunately, the end of the season gave us some breathing room, thanks in no small part to the superb victories by Frits and Pavel, which have already provided a positive outlook as we look toward 2027,” Barguil said. 

The Frenchman then turned his focus towards his long association with the team, which is currently facing serious questions about its internal culture following an investigation by Dutch broadcaster NOS and cycling podcast In De Waaier. 

“Regrettably, a recent article has caused us a great deal of harm, especially during this already delicate period as we fight for the team’s future and seek out new sponsors,” Barguil said. “I am not here to pass judgment on that article, but rather to share my own story with this team.”

Barguil turned professional with the team back in 2013, having won the Tour de l’Avenir the previous year. He made his mark quickly by winning two stages of the Vuelta a España in his neo-pro season and established himself as a key member of the team. 

In 2017, Barguil made the decision to switch teams for the following campaign and was suffering from injuries ahead of his key goal, the Tour de France. 

Despite his impending departure, he explained that the team management still backed him to start the race, and it would prove to be a fruitful decision. 

Barguil gave France its first Bastille Day winner for 12 years on stage 13 before winning atop the Col d'Izoard in the polka dot jersey on stage 18, en route to winning the mountains classification. 

“In 2017, I terminated my contract for the following year, just before the Tour de France. Yet, even though I was injured and already set to leave for another team the next season, the squad placed their full trust in me to be at the start line,” Barguil said. 

“At the time, Iwan told me: "'You’ll be back.' And I did come back,” Barguil said of team manager Iwan Spekenbrink. “If the management had been toxic, I never would have returned.” 

After six seasons at the now-defunct Arkéa, Barguil made his return to the Dutch team in 2024, and he has defended the team’s environment, praising the work of the hierarchy since. 

“Like in any organisation, there are rules and responsibilities. You may like them or you may not, but this isn’t a Club Med vacation. For my part, this framework and these high standards have helped me grow as a man,” he said. 

“Unfortunately, it is always the difficult moments that make the headlines, while all the good work being done receives far too little attention. I just wanted to tell you that I see my team giving their absolute all every single day.”

The investigation, based on confidential interviews with 71 current and former employees, included former rider Martijn Tusveld’s account of experiencing psychological difficulties after becoming afraid to express his opinions. 

Former coach Adriaan Helmantel also described the organisation as having become a “dictatorship” following its sporting success in 2017.

Sporting director Rudi Kemna has rejected that notion, although he acknowledged that the experiences described by former employees must be taken seriously. 

Barguil's former teammate and current sports director Roy Curvers has also defended the team while recognising that organisational changes have negatively affected some people.

Picnic PostNL has also commissioned an independent investigation, while the Dutch cycling federation is considering whether further action is necessary.

Barguil concluded by reaffirming his ambition to help Picnic kick on next season in what will be his ninth campaign with the team.

“Riders and staff alike, we all want to turn the page on this season and start fresh together, building a new foundation for the future.”