Photo Credit: SWPix
Team Picnic PostNL are pleased to reveal that strong young British climbing duo, Finn O’Brien and Matthew Peace, will join their Development program next season. Coming off the back of two good years in the junior ranks, the pair will don the two-striped jersey through the 2027 season.
Finn O’Brien
Hailing from Amersham in the United Kingdom, O’Brien is a former U16 national hill climb champion who finds the steep gradients and challenging climbs to his liking. O’Brien’s first year in the junior categories saw him gain some valuable experience with his Zappi Junior Race Team in a variety of races across Europe, ending the year with an impressive fourth at Memorial Antonio Colo. Taking what he learned into this season, O’Brien has continued to improve in 2025 with an impressive seven podium finishes in either stages or overall classifications. Highlights include a third place on GC at the Tour d’Ambert Livradois Forez, built on a strong sixth in the time trial and a fourth place on the following day’s hilly circuit. He also enjoyed a successful weekend in France, finishing fifth and then third at the Classic Région Sud U19 one-day races. Most recently, he rounded out his season with an impressive second place at the hilly Olgiate Molgora Ghisallo, which featured the iconic climb of the same name.
O’Brien expressed: “I’ve always admired Team Picnic PostNL, especially after their strong season and seeing how many of the riders in the Tour de France came through the Development program together. That’s incredibly motivating. From my first conversations it was clear this is the right environment to help me reach my full potential. Everything from the setup in Sittard, to the coaching and scientific approach is on a level I haven’t experienced before, and I’m excited to see where that can take me and how I can contribute to the team. I’d describe myself as a climber who loves the mountains, but I also enjoy animating races on rolling terrain and racing for GC in stage races. My goal is to make the most of these development years, learn from the experienced staff, and hopefully grow into a WorldTour rider in the future who can play a key role in the team’s continued success. On the bike I’m detail-oriented and love the process of training and racing to get the best out of myself, and off the bike I like to think I bring a positive attitude.”
Team Picnic PostNL head coach Rudi Kemna added: “Finn is a climber with enormous potential, and we see a lot of room for growth in his abilities. He has only had the chance to show his talent against top opposition in a few races so far, as he didn’t race internationally very often, but his performance data shows that he is a rider with real promise. In hillier races he will have the freedom to test himself, chase his own results, and see just how far he can go, while on flatter courses he will focus on supporting his teammates and finishers, helping with positioning and so on. Our priority is to develop him overall as a rider and person: physically, technically, and tactically, so he can become a complete rider. We’re very excited to help Finn take the next steps in his career and see him grow into the talent we believe he can be.”
Photo Credit: William Cannarella
Matthew Peace
Like his older brother Oliver, Peace is also a strong climber who finds himself at home when the gradients get going, but he can also produce a good ride against the clock. His opening year in the junior ranks with Tofauti Everyone Active Majaco saw steady progression throughout the season with a fifth place in the time trial at the national championships and the same result overall at La Ronde Des Vallées highlights. Taking what he learned from that first year into 2025, Peace started the year exceptionally with two back-to-back solo wins over the climbs at GP El Baruci and Memorial Chele Campos in April, which was followed up by fourth at Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Consistency reigned supreme for Peace with more solid GC showings at the likes of Valromey Juniors and Aubel-Stavelot, before a strong ride saw him take a stage win and overall title at the recent Vuelta a Cantabria. Recently, Peace impressed once more with a great teammate’s ride at the World Championships in Rwanda, where he also went on to finish fifth in the road race.
Peace said: “What really drew me to Team Picnic PostNL is the development pathway they offer. The team has an excellent history of helping riders progress from the Development program to the Men’s program, and that really appealed to me. I’m especially looking forward to being part of such a strong group, working alongside some of the best U23 riders, and learning from coaches who have guided many successful careers. I see myself as a GC rider who thrives in the mountains, enjoys stage racing, and can tackle Ardennes-style shorter climbs with energy. My goal is to progress through the Development program and, ultimately, reach the Men’s program to race some of the biggest events in the world. On and off the bike, I bring a positive attitude, dedication, and the ability to give my all, whether I’m leading the team or supporting my teammates to achieve success together.”
Team Picnic PostNL head coach Rudi Kemna continued: “Matthew is one of the biggest GC prospects coming out of the junior ranks now, and we’re happy to see him join our Development program, with real potential in both climbing and time-trialling. We’ll work closely with him on technical skills like positioning, descending, and race craft, to complement his natural abilities. His role in the team is all about broad development: in the mountains he can race for his own chances and see how far he can go, while on the flatter courses he will support teammates and help position them. We have a lot of confidence in his qualities, and we are excited to watch him grow over the coming seasons.”
