Dropping down a tier to survive: Picnic PostNL considers leaving the WorldTour

The Picnic PostNL team could be at the center of one of the most striking moves ahead of the 2027 season. The Dutch team is reportedly considering voluntarily leaving the UCI WorldTour and applying for a ProTeam license, a decision aimed at reducing the economic and sporting demands of the top category and ensuring the continuity of its structure.

Picnic PostNL could voluntarily drop to ProTeam in 2027

The information was initially published by Vélo-Club, which cites several sources to assert that this possibility is being seriously considered within the team. Subsequently, Velora Cycling has also reported on this scenario. Although there is currently no official confirmation from Team Picnic PostNL, so the decision cannot be considered final.

The team's situation has been particular since the last distribution of WorldTour licenses. When the UCI announced the 18 structures that would be part of the top category during the 2026-2028 cycle, Picnic PostNL initially received a license valid only for 2026.

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The UCI then explained that the License Commission had established certain conditions related to the financial criteria that the team had to meet for its license to be extended to the 2027 and 2028 seasons.

Now, according to Vélo-Club, the structure itself is considering taking another path and competing directly as a ProTeam next season.

Being a ProTeam would allow Picnic PostNL greater freedom to shape its calendar and avoid the obligation to face the entire program corresponding to a WorldTour team.

This reduced volume of competition would also allow for better adaptation of the squad and available financial resources, something particularly relevant for a structure that this season is far from the results of the top WorldTour teams.

Staying in the Top 30 would be crucial

Currently, Picnic PostNL occupies 28th place in the UCI ranking with 2,662 points after its men's team has only achieved two victories during 2026: Casper van Uden in the Tour of Turkey and Pavel Bittner in Paris-Chauny.

But the key would be just that. The team needs to stay among the top 30 in the UCI ranking to maintain a favorable position within the invitation system in case it becomes a ProTeam.

Thus, with that ranking, it could access invitations to the Grand Tours during the next season even without being WorldTour.

This possible decision would also have consequences for other teams. One less spot within the WorldTour could alter the distribution of invitations for 2027 and benefit the better-ranked structures in the ProTeam category, although this scenario will ultimately depend on how the top category is configured and the application of UCI regulations.