◆2 sources
Rudi Kemna, a sports director of cycling team Picnic PostNL, was hospitalized after a serious accident involving a roof collapse. One report said he sustained fractures to his neck, back, sternum and several other bones.
17 sources
An investigation based on confidential interviews with 71 current and former riders and staff alleged that the Dutch WorldTour cycling team Picnic-PostNL had for years had a fear culture and an unsafe, tightly controlled working environment. Former members described feeling unable to raise concerns, and some said they left traumatised. Former rider Martijn Tusveld said the experience had caused mental-health problems. The Professional Cyclists’ Association said it had received similar signals; a single report said Centrum Veilige Sport Nederland had also received reports. Picnic-PostNL said it did not recognise itself in the overall picture, but announced an independent professional investigation into how its team culture is experienced. It said it wants to understand why anyone may have felt unsafe or unable to voice concerns. Sports director Rudi Kemna said he was sorry that people had experienced the situation this way and that the team must listen, while saying he did not recognise descriptions of a culture or dictatorship. Rider Julius van den Berg also said he had not experienced it that way, though he found the accounts distressing for those involved.