After a three-year break: Minimum wage in the peloton to rise again from 2024

The Cyclistes Professionnels Associés (CPA) and the Association Internationale des Groupes Cyclistes Professionnels (AIGCP) have agreed, with effect from 1 January, that a professional cyclist must earn at least 28,191 euros per year. This figure applies to neo-pros in teams with a pro licence. For riders who have already completed a season, the racing teams must pay at least €33,707. Other minimum sums apply for World Teams: Neos have to earn at least 34,020 euros, all others 42,047 euros. No international minimum salaries apply on the Continental Tour.

Further increase of five per cent in 2025

These minimum wage figures correspond to the salaries for riders employed by the teams. However, the UCI regulations also allow the professionals to be self-employed. This is the case at Bora-Hansgrohe, for example. In France and Belgium, on the other hand, all riders are obliged to be employees of the teams. Overall, both models should be roughly equal in terms of the number of users. In all categories, self-employed riders receive at least 164 per cent of the sums paid to employees.

The agreement was signed by Australian ex-professional Adam Hansen as President of the CPA and Jumbo-Visma team boss Richard Plugge as his counterpart at the AIGCP. All minimum wages are to increase by five per cent for the 2025 season.

Minimum wage for women is levelling out

Most recently, an agreement on minimum wages came into force for the 2018 season. It was designed to run for three years and provided for a two per cent increase after each season. Following the financially difficult post-coronavirus phase, particularly for sponsors, a new agreement was initially not concluded.

While the CPA and AIGCP negotiate the framework for the financial remuneration of riders in the men's sector, the world governing body is responsible for the women's sector. However, the UCI only regulates the minimum pay in the top league, the Women's World Tour, below which there are no stipulations. There, the minimum wage in 2023 was €32,102 - and thus the value that has also been valid for experienced professionals in teams with a pro licence since 2020. In 2024, the amount is set to increase to 35,000 euros, and in 2025 to 38,000 euros.

Minimum wages in professional cycling

• Men: Neo-pros in pro teams from 2024: 28,191 Euro
• Men: Riders in Pro teams with at least one completed season from 2024: 33,707 Euro
• Men: Neo-pros in World Tour teams from 2024: 34,020 Euro
• Men: Riders in World Tour teams with at least one completed season from 2024: 42,047 Euro
• Women: From 2024 in the Women's World Tour: 35,000 euros
• Women: From 2025 in the Women's World Tour: 38,000 euros

The salary of the top stars in professional cycling

However, all these sums are a far cry from what the stars of cycling earn. Even if there are only estimates, and only for the men - the last of the best-paid professional cyclists was published in 2022 by the Italian website Calcio e Finanza. Top earner at the time was Tadej Pogacar with 6 million euros per year, followed by Chris Froome and Peter Sagan (both 5.5 million euros).