Picnic PostNL deny that they are considering giving up their men’s WorldTour status for the 2027 season, saying that they are preparing for racing at the top tier of both the men’s and women’s peloton next season.
"That is not correct," a team spokesperson told NieuwsFiets when asked about the reports. "We are simply preparing for 2027 as a WorldTour team in both the men's and women's categories."
The denial answers a report from Vélo-Club on October 6. Citing several unnamed sources, it said the Dutch team was seriously considering applying for ProTeam status. Such a move would let it pick its targets and avoid a demanding race programme after a difficult season. Velora reported the rumour the same day.
The team denies planning a voluntary step down. It does not settle whether the men's team keeps its place. In December 2025, the UCI granted the men's team a licence for one year only, rather than the full 2026–2028 cycle.
The UCI Licence Commission decided "to limit the duration of the licence to one year and to set conditions related to the financial criterion that must be met in order to permit its extension to the 2027 and 2028 seasons."
The UCI has not made public what those conditions are. All licences also remain subject to annual registration. Whether Picnic PostNL races in the WorldTour in 2027 therefore depends on the UCI accepting that the conditions have been met, not on the team's intentions.
The same applies to the women's team, which was given the same one-year licence and the same financial conditions. The spokesperson also said the development squad is currently planned to remain at Continental level in 2027.
A thin season
The men's team has won two races in 2026. Casper van Uden took stage 5 of the Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye on April 30, and Pavel Bittner won Paris-Chauny on September 27.
Bittner will not be part of the rebuild. The Czech sprinter joins Pinarello-Q36.5 on January 1, 2027, on a two-year deal. He follows Oscar Onley (Netcompany INEOS), who left for the 2026 season after finishing fourth at the 2025 Tour de France. Picnic PostNL has signed ten riders for 2027, while several current riders are leaving.
Pinarello-Q36.5 is the sharpest contrast. Its application for a 2026–2028 WorldTour licence was not approved under the sporting criterion, and it has raced as a ProTeam this year. Even so, Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5) finished ninth overall at the Tour de France.
Pinarello-Q36.5 could benefit if a WorldTour place became available. For now, no place is available, and Picnic PostNL says it intends to keep its own.
