Matt Winston to leave post at Picnic PostNL after 8 years and reunite with Romain Bardet

Picnic PostNL will part ways with a long-standing member after this year. Matt Winston has long been a key figure as team director of the Dutch team, but after eight years, the Briton will be moving on to something else. According to well-informed source Daniel Benson, that something else will be a role at Decathlon CMA CGM.

Winston had been working at Picnic PostNL since 2019. He started on the development team, but gradually earned the team’s trust and became an indispensable part of Sunweb, DSM, and their successors. This year, he was deployed for races including Liège–Bastogne–Liège, the Giro d’Italia, and the Tour de France. But his time with Picnic PostNL is now coming to an end.

"After eight years with the team, Matt has decided to leave the organisation and take on a new challenge elsewhere," according to a press release. "After eight years of working together, the team looks back on a strong and valuable period and thanks Matt for his dedication and contribution to the team. The team wishes him the best of luck in the next chapter of his career."

Winston isn't the only one leaving. "Coaches Davide Gani and Melvin Rulliere are also leaving the team at the end of the season," reports Picnic PostNL. "The team thanks both of them for their dedication and contributions during their time with the team and wishes them all the best for the future."

Winston's time at the Dutch outfit saw them punch above their weight on many occasions, with audacious Grand Tour stage wins and last year a 4th place overall with Oscar Onley at the Tour de France. Much of this was due to Winston's British Cycling training and innovative tactics.

Benson highlights that many teams have tried to poach Winston over the years, but he has always remained loyal to Picnic PostNL. The potential move to Decathlon was just "too good to turn down" according to Benson, and would see Winston reunited with Romain Bardet.

Fortunately, it’s not all bad news. Curvers will be promoted within the team. He turned pro with Skil-Shimano in 2008 and remained with that team throughout his career, through 2019, when it was known as Team Sunweb. After that, he immediately joined the staff of the Dutch team as a coach, but he will be taking on a leadership role in the team’s Sports Management department, according to the announcement.

"Roy has been part of the team since 2008. He started out as a rider and then transitioned to a coaching role in the Development Program and later at the WorldTour level. During that time, he has not only developed as a coach within the organization, but has also further expanded his management and leadership skills and taken on increasing responsibility."

"With his extensive experience, natural leadership, and in-depth knowledge of the organization, its culture, and its way of working, Roy is the ideal person to help shape the next phase of the sports structure. In his new role, Roy will be part of the Sports Management team, alongside Rudi Kemna,” Picnic PostNL concludes.

The team is having a dismal season and has only one win to its credit on the men’s side, while the women’s team isn’t doing well either. During the transfer window, the team has already had to say goodbye to big names like Pavel Bittner, Fabio Jakobsen, Casper van Uden, Megan Arens, and Pfeiffer Georgi.