Nicolas Roche said his time with what was then Team Sunweb, now Picnic-PostNL, became increasingly difficult in 2020 and 2021. The former Irish professional cyclist said management relied too heavily on strict protocols and planned races in excessive detail, leaving little room for riders to adapt. He described repeated conflicts after expressing opinions, including an incident at a January 2021 training camp when staff reprimanded him for extending a training session. Roche also said the team discouraged close personal relationships between riders and staff, which he believed increased mental pressure and could contribute to burnout and other mental-health problems.

Roche said the team ultimately pushed him out because he had too much influence over younger riders and encouraged them not to follow the protocol. He said his experience and directness had become problems for management, while also expressing gratitude that the team was among the few to continue paying riders during the coronavirus pandemic.