Bringing on board a variety of experience, Team Picnic PostNL are excited to announce the signings of Dillon Corkery, James Knox and Oliver Peace to their Men’s program for 2026. Corkery spent the second half of the season as a stagiaire with the team and is contracted through 2027. Peace, who makes the step-up after being part of the Development program and is the 23rd rider to do so, will also wear the two-stripes through 2027, while experienced strong climber Knox has a contract for 2026.
Dillon Corkery
Hailing from Ireland, Corkery is a late bloomer within the sport, having progressed steadily through the ranks in recent years, honing his trade on the amateur then Continental level racing scene in France. Formerly working part time as a tradesman alongside his cycling, Corkery has taken a step-up in 2025 and impressed many with strong performances in the opening part of the year. An attacking race saw him take sixth place at the cobbled GP de Denain against top quality opposition, and he’s shown versatility and a good kick with eighth place in La Roue Tourangelle and a third on the opening stage of Règion Pays de la Loire Tour. Those performances saw Corkery earn a stagiaire contract with the team, recently making his debut at Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen.
Corkery said: “I’ve always wanted to be part of a team that combines professionalism with the freedom to grow, and Team Picnic PostNL felt like the perfect fit. I’m especially excited to play a role in races I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid, like the Classics and maybe even a Grand Tour. I would describe myself as a punchy rider who loves a fast finish and can support our sprinters when it counts. My goal is to contribute to a winning environment and keep that momentum going throughout the season. On the bike I bring experience and tactical know-how, while off the bike I try to create a calm, relaxed atmosphere and have a bit of “craic” with the boys, as we say in Ireland.”
Team Picnic PostNL head coach Rudi Kemna added: “Dillon is a rider who has developed a little later, but his instincts for positioning and timing in a sprint are exceptional and immediately strengthen our Classics and lead-out group. We believe he has the raw qualities to become a key part of our sprint train while we help him explore the harder one-day races and discover exactly where his strengths can shine. Bringing him into our system gives us a rider who is hungry to prove himself and who will add depth and reliability to our fast-finishing squad.”
James Knox
Moving to the team for 2026, Knox brings a wealth of experience with him, having competed at the highest level of the sport since 2018 when he turned professional. A strong and reliable climber, Knox finds himself at home when the gradients get steeper; previously finishing 11th on GC at the Vuelta a España back in 2019 alongside several other good results throughout his career at World Tour and professional level. However, Knox is also known for being a committed team player and has fulfilled the role of climbing domestique to an impeccable standard throughout this career so far, helping his team to multiple successes over the years in some of the biggest races in the world.
Knox expressed: “What drew me to Team Picnic PostNL is the opportunity to join a team with a proven track record at the highest level, and to work with talented young riders like fellow Brits, Oscar Onley and Max Poole. I’m excited to become part of a strong team culture and contribute to its continued success. I would describe myself as an experienced and reliable rider in stage races and Grand Tours, someone who has been part of big victories and is eager to do so again with Team Picnic PostNL. My goal is always to achieve the best possible results in the biggest races, and on the bike, I bring strong support and consistency, while off the bike I aim to be a positive, motivating presence within the team.”
Team Picnic PostNL head coach Rudi Kemna added: “James adds the experienced climbing support that every GC team needs. He has shown year after year that he can deliver in the mountains, and we see an opportunity to help him rediscover fresh motivation and reach an even higher level. Our ambition is to guide him so that he can go deeper into the finales of the toughest stages and become an even more decisive presence for our finishers like Max and Oscar. His professionalism, calm under pressure mentality, and pure climbing talent will lift the entire group when the road tilts upward.”
Oliver Peace
Progressing through Team Picnic PostNL’s Development program, Peace has spent two good years with the team so far, plying his trade in a diverse mix of races and against a variety of opposition. 2024 saw him find his feet having made the step up from juniors, riding well in multiple different events and gaining invaluable experience racing alongside the Men’s program at events such as the Tour of the Alps and Tour of Britain. That was rounded out with a good sixth place through the vineyards of Paris-Tours Espoirs as this year has seen him continue to develop, taking a good 11th place on GC at the beginning of the year at Tour du Rwanda; before helping to contribute to the team’s goals and his national squad when he’s represented them in races such as the Tour de l’Avenir.
Peace said: “I’ve really enjoyed my first two years with the Development program, and the opportunities I’ve had with the WorldTour squad have been valuable. The belief the coaches and team have had in me has given me a lot of confidence. From the very beginning, I’ve felt really comfortable in this environment and I’ve already made a lot of great memories with the team. Racing in Rwanda at the start of this year was a special experience, and riding my first pro race at the Tour of the Alps last year was also a fun week, but my favourite memory so far must be riding on home roads at the Tour of Britain last year. Looking ahead I just want to continue developing with the team and really find my feet at WorldTour level; contribute to the team as much as possible while also learning as much as I can from the more experienced guys.”
Team Picnic PostNL head coach Rudi Kemna concluded: “Oliver’s progression through our Development program has been outstanding, and he now fully deserves this next step into the Men’s program. He is gifted both in climbing and time trialling, a combination that gives him the tools to grow into a GC rider over the coming years. Initially he will play an important support role in stage races, but we will give him every opportunity to continue developing the endurance, racing craft and consistency needed for the WorldTour. Watching him take on this challenge will be a proud moment for everyone who has worked with him.”