Picnic PostNL team manager Iwan Spekenbrink responds to culture allegations, Digi Mart USA News: Iwan Spekenbrink has responded for the first time to publications about a fear culture at Picnic PostNL. The team manager does not recognize the picture painted by NOS Sport and In De Waaier of his team.
Speaking to De Telegraaf, he called that picture “misleading.” He did not address the specific accounts from former riders and staff members.
In mid-October, NOS Sport and In De Waaier published an investigation based on confidential conversations with 71 people who work or have worked for the team. It described an “unsafe work situation” and even “tyranny.” Former rider Martijn Tusveld and trainer Adriaan Helmantel spoke openly about their experiences.
Spekenbrink declined to comment at the time.
Now he has responded and firmly rejects the conclusion. “The ‘fear culture’ that the story is built around is, in my view, misleading,” he said.
He pointed to an earlier article featuring Marcel Kittel, Tom Veelers and Kirsten Wild. “They are critical, and that is allowed, but none of the three confirms the picture being sketched.
Yes, a number of sources have said so, and I regret that, because you always want a safe work environment for everyone. Still, a one-sided story has been told.”
According to Spekenbrink, the team did not respond beforehand because of the way the journalists approached it. “They sent us only eight questions, which we were allowed to answer within two days.
In other words, a framing that would have left their story set in stone in advance. We did not go along with that.” He would have preferred that current employees also had a voice.
“When you walk through the paddock, our team always shows a lot of fun and camaraderie.”
The team has announced an internal investigation. “It will take a while before we have the result.
We do not run away from mistakes, because they are made by everyone and everywhere,” Spekenbrink said. “When you read that people were truly affected, you have to be honest, because that is not pleasant.
We do not want employees to leave with a bitter aftertaste.”
If he draws a lesson, it concerns expectations at the outset. Spekenbrink says the team’s approach sometimes clashes with riders who are used to working individually.
“Evidently we have not always explained our story clearly enough at the beginning. We will have to better communicate how we see collaboration, and sometimes say sooner that it is not a ‘match.'” As an example, he cited new riders who want to keep working with their own trainer, strength coach and dietitian.
He said there will be no change of course. “We still believe in our way of working together.
Teamwork is our foundation, with respect for one another.” Spekenbrink expects the team to also hold a WorldTour licence next year, while acknowledging that the publications have hit hard, including among employees worried about their jobs. “It is a difficult time now, but we will come out of this stronger.”
