Max Poole and Oscar Onley see Picnic PostNL pick up two gems from the lower leagues: 'Data confirmed what we suspected'

Picnic PostNL have been busy in November, unveiling two more additions to their 2026 roster. After the team’s recent transfer moves, the latest signings aren’t household names — but the Dutch squad believes they’ve struck gold. Italian Mattia Gaffuri and Frenchman Henri‑François Renard‑Haquin both sign their first-ever WorldTour contracts.  

Gaffuri arrives from the gravel scene with Swatt Club at the fourth tier of road cycling. He impressed at the Italian Road Championships and, during a stagiaire spell with Polti VisitMalta in the autumn, showed what he could do — including 12th at the Trofeo Tessile & Moda, a climbing race won by Adam Yates, finishing ahead of the likes of Wout Poels.

"That was enough for Picnic PostNL to hand him a two‑year deal. What really attracted me to Team Picnic PostNL is the attention to detail and the strong focus on long-term rider development," the 26-year-old Gaffuri said on his new team's website. "The team’s scientific approach, from training to equipment, is something I really appreciate — especially because I’ve also worked as a coach myself in recent years."

"I’d describe myself as a climber, more of a diesel type with a strong engine, and I know I still have room to grow when it comes to race craft," the Italian continued. "My goal is to become a rider who can target results in smaller stage races, while also being a reliable support for our finishers in the mountains.'

Gaffuri caught the attention of Picnic head coach Rudi Kemna when he impressed on the gravel circuit. "Once we got in contact and looked at his data, that only confirmed what we’d seen; his numbers are outstanding. At the Italian Championships, for example, his teammate went on to win the pro title, and Mattia played a crucial role in making sure the main favourite never came back," says the Dutchman, who sees Gaffuri as a future key figure around Oscar Onley and Max Poole.

Renard‑Haquin spent this year riding at ProTour level with the soon‑to‑fold Wagner Bazin WB. He demonstrated a big engine, often joining the early break, and won the mountains jersey at the Tour de Wallonie. Other than that, his results weren’t headline‑grabbing — nor were Wagner’s — but Picnic PostNL spotted him regardless.

The Frenchman will also make his WorldTour debut, signing through to the end of 2026.I’m really excited to be joining Team Picnic PostNL, I think it is the most beautiful opportunity of my career so far," he said. "It’s a real chance for me to just give it my best in 2026 and see where I can go. The team has a very professional set-up and I’m looking forward to working with all the staff and the other riders."

Renard-Haquin can flourish in several races. "For now, I see myself as rouleur come puncheur. I have a bit of a sprint on that terrain and I don’t mind a hard day out on the short hills. In this coming year I just want to learn as much as possible and give my all for the team, and hopefully we can achieve some nice results together as a group.”

Kemna believes Renard‑Haquin can grow enormously across multiple areas. "When we looked at his data, it confirmed what we already suspected: he’s a real top talent with a huge engine and plenty of room to grow. He’s the kind of rider who can be part of the early breakaway in the spring classics and still be there deep into the finale. At the same time, we don’t rule out the possibility that he could develop into a sprinter."