‘Why were voices like mine ignored?’ - John Degenkolb challenges Picnic PostNL investigation as journalist responds

The investigation by Dutch broadcaster NOS and cycling podcast In de Waaier, published last week, brought serious allegations about the team's working environment to light. Based on confidential conversations with 71 current and former riders and staff members, the reports described an atmosphere of fear, psychological pressure and a lack of freedom to challenge management decisions.

Degenkolb, however, says his personal experience has been very different. The 37-year-old, who won both Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix during his first spell with the team, returned in 2022 after six seasons elsewhere. On Monday, he took to Instagram to share his perspective.

"After a week of vacation, I feel it is important to share my personal perspective on the NOS investigation," Degenkolb wrote. "In ten of my 16 years as a professional at Team Picnic PostNL, I have never experienced a 'culture of fear', neither before nor after my deliberate return to the team in 2022."

While acknowledging the importance of listening to those who have reported negative experiences, Degenkolb questioned whether the investigation presented a sufficiently balanced picture of the organisation.

"Critical voices must be heard and taken seriously. However, for a fair and balanced assessment, all relevant perspectives should be taken into account," he continued.

"Our team comprises around 160 employees, including approximately 60 riders per season. With an 18-year team history, there are surely 71 people with negative experiences, but exclusively negative ones?"

"Why were voices like mine—and those of many others—left out of the research?"

Zonneveld subsequently responded directly to Degenkolb on Instagram, explaining that the journalists could not disclose who had been interviewed because of their commitment to protecting confidential sources.

"We cannot tell you who we spoke exactly, because we will always protect our sources," Zonneveld wrote. "But I can tell you that we spoke to 71 riders, ex-riders, staff and former staff. And if we keep counting the (former) employees we spoke to after the publication, it would be even more."

The Dutch journalist also acknowledged Degenkolb's perspective while stressing that many others had described very different experiences. "I respect your point of view and I am more than happy to hear from you in more detail (I will send you my number in DM), but there are a lot of people who had a different experience than you," he added.

Degenkolb is not the first experienced rider to publicly defend Picnic PostNL following the allegations. Warren Barguil, who also left the Dutch organisation before returning in 2024, shared a similar perspective over the weekend. 

The Frenchman recalled how the team continued to support him ahead of the 2017 Tour de France despite knowing he would be leaving at the end of the season. "If the management had been toxic, I never would have returned," Barguil explained, pointing to his decision to rejoin the squad as evidence of his confidence in the organisation.

Barguil also stressed that professional cycling inevitably comes with demanding expectations and strict rules. "This isn't a Club Med vacation," he said, arguing that the team's high standards had helped him develop both as a rider and as a person. He expressed concern that the recent allegations had damaged the squad at a particularly difficult moment, with Picnic PostNL working to secure sponsorship and its future in the WorldTour.

The statements from Degenkolb and Barguil offer a different perspective on the allegations surrounding Picnic PostNL, although their positive experiences do not diminish the seriousness of the accounts shared by former riders and staff.

Picnic PostNL has already acknowledged the gravity of the allegations while stating that it does not recognise itself in the overall picture presented by NOS and In de Waaier. The team has commissioned an independent investigation into its working culture, with the findings expected to provide further clarity on the issues raised.