6/25/2025

Pro cyclist salaries in 2025: Who earns the most - and how?

In 2025, pro cycling is big business. Top riders earn millions from salaries, sponsorships, media, and social media, not just racing.

Pro cyclist salaries in 2025: Who earns the most - and how?

Like many other sports, professional cycling is no longer simply about the sweat, honour and glory of winning. In 2025, it's also big business and money plays a huge factor in determining success. From multimillion-euro contracts to lucrative brand endorsements, today’s top riders are not only athletes - they’re also high-earning global celebrities who need to juggle multiple income streams.

The average career of a pro cyclist is relatively short - around 10 years - so the pressure to earn as much as possible in that time is understandable. And the top teams are constantly on the lookout to sign the top talent and will offer big money for the best. For both riders and teams, talent = trophies = more sponsorship. It's a self-feeding machine.

So let's take a look inside the financial engine driving professional cycling and dive into the world of the highest paid cyclists 2025 to discover who’s earning the big bucks - and how.

1. The business of being a pro cyclist

Cycling has come a long way from its grassroots origins. Although it has has some minor struggles in the last few years, it's now a firmly established global business. Television, internet and sponsorship have transformed it. Netflix's Tour de France: Unchained series, although now sadly cancelled, brought cycling to a whole new international audience. With global fan bases, and tech-driven engagement (yes, apps like ROUVY included!), the sport has become a commercial powerhouse.

Today’s top riders earn millions not just from racing, but from sponsorship deals, appearance fees, and increasingly - social media. But unlike footballers or tennis stars, most pro cyclists don’t have guaranteed global fame or centralized prize pools. Their professional cyclist income is a blend of salary, winnings, and hustle.

cbd5062c-61a9-4a03-b85f-dd920603ee2e.jpeg Team Visma | Lease a Bike enjoy a celebratory moment at the Giro d'Italia after a significant stage victory.

2. Top 10 highest paid cyclists in 2025 (with estimates)

Here’s the list everyone wants to see. Based on public reports, insider estimates, and contract rumours, these are the current top 10 highest paid cyclists in 2025:

    1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) – €7 million/year

The Slovenian star continues to dominate on and off the bike, with race wins, charisma, and a global following.

    1. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma–Lease a Bike) – €6.5 million/year

Back-to-back Tour wins and an icy-cool image make Vingegaard a sponsor favourite.

    1. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal–Quick-Step) – €5.5 million/year

Belgium’s golden boy mixes time-trial dominance with marketability and youth appeal.

    1. Primož Roglič (BORA–hansgrohe) – €4.5 million/year

His recent move from Jumbo-Visma earned him a huge salary hike.

    1. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin–Deceuninck) – €4 million/year

With world titles across disciplines, Van der Poel's versatility makes him a branding machine.

    1. Wout van Aert (Visma–Lease a Bike) – €4 million/year

A Swiss army knife of talent - mountains, sprints, time trials - he has it all.

    1. Tom Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers) – €3.5 million/year

The Brit is a cross-discipline star with Olympic gold and Tour stage wins.

    1. Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers) – €2.8 million/year

Despite injury setbacks, his 2019 Tour win still boosted his cyclist net worth and profile.

    1. Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal–Quick-Step) – €2.5 million/year

A fan-favourite with style and flair.

    1. Peter Sagan (Retired/Uno-X guest appearances) – €2 million/year (in endorsements)

Though semi-retired from road racing, Sagan remains a top earner through lifestyle branding.

3. Where does a pro cyclist’s income come from?

Teams don't publicly reveal the exact details of the various ways that their riders earn money and the breakdown varies from team to team - so getting an exact number is difficult. But in general, the average salary of the highest paid cyclists is a made up from a combination of:

Team contracts
  • WorldTour riders typically earn anywhere from €200,000 to €6 million annually.
  • ProTeam (second-tier) contracts are much lower—some riders earn under €100,000.
  • Star riders negotiate multi-year deals, often with performance bonuses and image rights. A recent bold trend has seen teams offering lifetime contracts to riders such as Wout van Aert and Mads Pedersen.

lidl-trek signs.jpeg A lidl-trek team cyclist signs a form

Endorsements and brand deals
  • While most teams have deals with brands for their riders, many cyclists also have personal deals with clothing and gear brands.
  • Social media following and national appeal play a massive role in this income stream. This is where media-savvy cyclists supported by a strong media team really have an advantage. The richest cyclists are the ones who understand this new landscape and embrace it.
Prize money
  • While often headline-grabbing, prize earnings are rarely the main earner.
  • Most of it is split among the whole team—including domestiques, mechanics, and directors.
Appearance Fees and Media
  • High-profile riders can earn fees for showing up at post-Tour criteriums, charity events, or live streams.

soren kragh andersen.jpeg Soren Kragh Andersen of Denmark and Team Lidl - Trek prior to the 94th Baloise Belgium Tour 2025, Stage 1

4. Prize money breakdown: Tour de France, Giro, Vuelta

Here’s a quick overview at what’s on offer:

Total Prize
Tour de France€2.3 million
Giro d’Italia€1.5 million
Vuelta a España€1.1 million
Winner’s Share
Tour de France€500,000
Giro d’Italia€265,000
Vuelta a España€150,000

Not bad, but when you consider the physical effort involved and the team splits, a Tour winner might take home less than their agent.

And yes - Tour de France riders can also win prize money for stage wins, combativity awards, and team classifications, but most riders aren’t chasing it for cash alone.

jonas vingegaard.jpeg Jonas Vingegaard of Visma–Lease a Bike is is filmed by a media crew .

5. Sponsorships and endorsements: Earning the big bucks

Personal style, content presence, and personality are major assets for cyclists. Think Van der Poel’s wild wins, Pidcock’s vlogs or van Aert's big smile. These elements not only enhance a cyclist's marketability but also open doors to lucrative endorsement deals and social media partnerships. Moreover, teams often prioritize riders who can attract sponsors and fans alike, as their popularity translates into higher visibility for brands and, consequently, more substantial financial backing. As well as physical performance, a cyclist's ability to connect with audiences and maintain a strong personal brand can be just as critical in determining their professional cyclist salary.

Mr 10%

Here it's worth taking a moment to talk about agents and managers. Like in most other high profile sports, top cycling talents usually have agents or managers who deal with their client's business matters and make the deals for them so the cyclists can focus on cycling. In return they usually take 5-10% of all earnings (it can be higher in some cases) but, with all the multiple income streams to juggle, having a good agent is crucial.

lidl trek riders line up.jpeg Lidl-trek riders line up on a podium

6. What about domestiques? The average pro salary explained.

Not every rider earns millions. In fact, the majority don’t. Domestiques are the unsung heroes of every successful cycling team. They won't win the prizes or glory but they are crucial for success. In return they are rewarded but not as much as the highest paid cyclists.

  • UCI minimum salary in 2025: €65,000 (men’s WorldTour)
  • Average domestique: €100,000–€250,000
  • Key support riders for top teams can earn up to €500,000, especially if they’re experienced climbers or time-trialists.

Bonuses for team results and specific race support roles can add to that basic number. But for many, it’s still a relatively modest living compared to global sports standards.

7. Conclusion: The evolving economics of professional cycling

In 2025, the financial side of cycling is bigger, smarter, and more connected than ever. Successful cyclists are brand ambassadors, digital content creators, and endurance legends - all rolled into one.

It’s clear that the professional cycling income landscape is evolving fast to meet a growing global audience.

8. How ROUVY brings fans closer to pro cycling

With it's sponsorship of Lidl-Trek and Team Visma Lease-a-bike, ROUVY supports the cycling industry, bridges the fan-athlete gap and democratizes the professional cyclist experience. If you want to train like Mads Pedersen or ride Wout van Aert’s favourite climbs, with ROUVY, you can. The app offers:

  • Grand Tour routes Ride the stages of the world's most famous cycling events and follow the pros.
  • Training plans and workouts designed by the team experts and used by their riders.
  • Group rides ride alongside pro cyclists on virtual social rides.
  • Special social content unique insights into the world of the pro teams

wout van aert.png Pro cyclist Wout van Aert trains on the ROUVY indoor cycling app

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Danny Holman
ROUVY Writer
As a self-exiled Englishman, Danny has been happily living in Prague for over 20 years. He's been working with words and stories most of his career for several top companies and start-ups - initially in film development and now as a copywriter and content writer. What makes him happiest is working with talented and creative people and enjoying the adrenaline rush of a new challenge and a looming deadline.
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