The countdown is on. In just a few days, the world will turn its eyes to France – for the biggest, boldest race on the cycling calendar. And as Team Picnic PostNL, we know just how special the Tour de France can be. Over the past ten years, our team has created moments that still echo through the sport: brave breakaways, iconic jerseys, unforgettable victories. As we prepare for another July full of promise, we look back at five unforgettable Tour de France moments from the past decade that defined us.
- Fairytale start (2024)
The Grand Départ in Florence had barely begun when Team Picnic PostNL wrote itself into the history books. On Stage 1 of the 2024 Tour, Romain Bardet launched a bold attack in the final kilometres, joined by teammate Frank van den Broek. The two crossed the line hand-in-hand, with Bardet taking the stage and the first yellow jersey of the race. It was more than just a win. It was a symbolic start to Bardet’s final Tour de France – and a stunning debut for Van den Broek, who showed the world he belonged. A one-two finish that we’ll never forget. It was a moment that captured everything this team stands for: courage, unity, and seizing the day.
- Tactical brilliance brings a triple treat (2020)
In a Tour shaped by uncertainty and resilience, our riders made it a summer to remember. Marc Hirschi lit up the race with a sensational solo victory, dancing over the climbs and descending like a daredevil. Not long after, Søren Kragh Andersen executed two textbook late attacks: timing, instinct, and legs all perfectly aligned. Three wins, each with its own story. It wasn’t just about power – it was about reading the race, taking chances, and riding with guts. A Tour defined by strategy and boldness.
- Podium in Paris (2018)
Tom Dumoulin was already a Giro champion, but the 2018 Tour de France confirmed his status as one of the best stage racers of his generation. He took a stunning victory in the mountains and fought relentlessly against the likes of Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome all the way to Paris. His final reward? Second place in the general classification, and a hard-earned place on the podium in Paris. A landmark achievement for the team, and for Dutch cycling as a whole.
- Mountains, sprints, and two jerseys (2017)
A Tour where everything clicked. Warren Barguil rode with fire and flair, winning two mountain stages in brilliant fashion and securing the polka dot jersey as King of the Mountains. Meanwhile, Michael Matthews took two sprint victories – including one on the iconic Rodez finish – and rode consistently to claim the green jersey in Paris. It was a Tour full of emotion and energy, with our team winning in every terrain. From the steepest climbs to fast finishes, the summer of 2017 remains one of the most complete Grand Tours in our history.
- The making of a Grand Tour star (2016)
Before the GC podiums and Grand Tour wins, there was the 2016 Tour – the race where Tom Dumoulin truly announced himself to the world. He won a brutal mountain stage in Andorra, showing his climbing credentials, and later dominated the time trial to La Caverne du Pont-d’Arc with surgical precision. It was the first glimpse of what he would become: an all-rounder capable of anything. The 2016 Tour was a turning point: for Dumoulin, and for the team’s ambitions.
The Tour de France has a way of writing new chapters every year. As we approach the Grand Départ of 2025, one thing is certain: we’re ready to create more stories.
Bring on July.