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Peperkamp alleges gag clauses as Picnic-PostNL opens its probe
Picnic-PostNL has appointed Professor Marjan Olfers to lead an independent investigation into team culture, working with her company Verinorm. The same day, Esmée Peperkamp told NOS her health and form deteriorated in five seasons at the team and called its medical support 'substandard'. She also said riders and staff she worked with have contractual clauses preventing public criticism of the team, even after leaving. An investigation built on interviews and surveys depends on exactly that speech.
What this means
Picnic-PostNL has commissioned an independent investigation led by Olfers and Verinorm. Wielerflits reports the team is absent from the provisional UCI list of 2027 licence applications and faces uncertainty over its WorldTour future.
The team told NOS it cannot comment on individual cases because the NOS complaint was anonymous and it does not share information about team members with third parties. Peperkamp went public after the NOS and In De Waaier report, saying she wanted to help others and explain her continuing poor health. Olfers said the culture of fear reported in the media would be investigated scientifically, as quickly and well as possible. The work will include interviews and surveys, and no date for results has been set. Peperkamp also alleges she was told to train through injury. The NOS and In De Waaier report that preceded the appointment drew on anonymous accounts from current and former riders and staff. The team said it did not recognise the general picture painted.
Sources
'You try to survive' – Esmée Peperkamp adds her name to the criticism of the culture at Picnic-PostNLPicnic-PostNL appoints investigator into team cultureAngstcultuur bij Nederlandse wielerploeg Picnic-PostNL: 'Ik dacht eraan mezelf wat aan te doen'Hoogleraar Olfers leidt onderzoek naar angstcultuur bij Picnic-PostNLHoogleraar Marjan Olfers gaat vermeende angstcultuur bij Picnic PostNL onderzoeken
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