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'It became a dictatorship' – Extensive report on alleged culture of fear leads Picnic-PostNL to launch independent investigation

Following an extensive journalistic investigation published by Dutch outlets on Thursday, WorldTour squad Picnic-PostNL has announced plans to commission an independent review into its internal environment. The investigative piece gathered input from seventy-one current and former personnel, painting a troubling picture of an atmosphere characterized by immense pressure under leadership figures Rudi Kemna and Iwan Spekenbrink.

While management stated they did not recognize the collective portrait drawn by the media reports, they conceded that a critical internal assessment remains necessary. Among those speaking publicly about past struggles was former rider Martijn Tusveld, who detailed experiencing severe mental health challenges and feelings of powerlessness following tactical disagreements during the 2010s.

Another former coach, Adriaan Helmantel, also contributed on-the-record observations regarding top-down control issues that allegedly escalated following past Grand Tour victories.

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