Team Picnic PostNL are pleased to reveal two more additions to their Women’s program for next season: Audrey De Keersmaeker and Gaia Masetti. Belgian De Keersmaeker will wear the team’s jersey through 2027, while Italian Masetti has a contract for 2026.
Audrey De Keersmaeker
A former swimmer who won silver two times in the open Belgian championships that also broke the Belgian record in her weight class for bench press, De Keersmaeker came to the sport of cycling later in her career. Winning the TV show “Koers zoekt vrouw” during the Covid-19 pandemic, she earned a contract on a cyclocross team for the end of 2021. Her experience in cyclocross saw her make the step-up from a Club team to the Continental level on the road at the start of 2024. The past few seasons have mostly been about gaining experience on the road, finding her way in the bunch and how to handle the hectic nature of the peloton, and exploring where her abilities lie. Some promising performances over a variety of terrain this season such as ninth at the Volta NXT Classic and 13th at a hard edition of Brabantse Pijl show that De Keersmaeker’s development is still on an upward trend.
De Keersmaeker expressed: “What really drew me to Team Picnic PostNL is the professional structure and the level of guidance the team provides. I recognised myself in the team’s mindset — structured, ambitious, and always looking to improve — so it immediately felt like the perfect match. What I’m most excited about is working together with everyone involved: the riders, trainers, coaches, and all the experts who help make this such a complete environment for growth. I haven’t been in the peloton for very long yet, so I’m still discovering what kind of rider I truly am, but I’ve already found that I love the tougher races with climbing; the Ardennes classics are exactly the type of courses that inspire me. My biggest goal is to keep developing together with the team, to become the best version of myself while helping those around me do the same. I’m a fighter, I never give up on or off the bike, and I like to bring positivity and motivation into the team atmosphere. That energy is something I hope will make a difference here.”
Team Picnic PostNL head coach Rudi Kemna continued: “Audrey is an attacking rider by nature, someone who always races with initiative and positivity. She’s versatile, and she’s never afraid to go on the offensive, even in flatter races. That’s exactly the kind of mindset we want to encourage: racing with an open view and a willingness to make things happen. Audrey will be an important part of that style for us. We see her playing a key role in hilly races and the Ardennes, as well as in mountain stages where she can stay up there with our best climbers. Next to this, she also has the instinct to join meaningful breakaways. We’re convinced she’ll bring a lot of energy and value to the group with her way of racing.”
Gaia Masetti
Coming from Sassuolo in Italy, Masetti has been racing her bike in the elite women’s peloton since coming out of the junior ranks at the end of 2019 and has progressed with her previous team from the Continental level to the Women’s WorldTour. 2023 was a stand-out season for the young Italian, where she took a solo win at the hilly La Classique Morbihan, alongside multiple other strong performances throughout the season such as fourth at the U23 European championships road race. More recently, the last two years have seen Masetti ride strongly in support of her teammates at some of the biggest races in the world, helping them to some top results. She has also had her share of bad luck with illness and injury but has shown resilience and a strong character to come back at the highest level.
Masetti said: “Joining Team Picnic PostNL feels like becoming part of something truly connected. I’ve always noticed how the riders race as one, supporting each other from the first kilometre to the finish line, and that kind of togetherness is something I really value and want to contribute to. I’m genuinely excited to begin this new chapter and see how far we can grow together. I still feel like I haven’t reached my limits as a rider, and this environment feels like the perfect place to keep developing and discovering what I’m capable of. Over the past few seasons, I’ve gained experience across many different races, and I’ve learned how and where I can make the biggest difference. I’d describe myself as a versatile rider who’s always ready to work hard and commit fully to the team’s goals. My biggest strengths are my determination, consistency, and drive; I never stop until I achieve what I set out to do. Off the bike, I’m someone who brings a lot of positive energy and laughter. I believe that a good atmosphere within the team helps us all perform at our very best.”
Team Picnic PostNL head coach Rudi Kemna added: “Gaia brings valuable experience and real captain qualities to the team. She has strong race insight and leadership skills, and that’s where we see her biggest impact. With the right guidance, we also believe she can take another physical step forward and be right there in the finales. She’s a true road captain; someone who can guide the team in the toughest races, whether that’s the hilly classics or the harder Belgian one-day races. Her presence will be a big asset for us in those moments.”