Pogačar in first place: This is how much the stars of cycling will earn in 2026

The financial landscape of professional cycling continues to evolve, with top salaries having risen significantly in recent years. The Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport took a closer look at this and compiled a salary ranking in January 2026. The newspaper based its findings on official figures from the UCI, to which journalists from *La Gazzetta* reportedly had exclusive access. Cyclingnews.com I have been able to verify the figures, according to my own account.

Overall, the average men’s WorldTour team budget rose from 31.1 million to 33.1 million euros within a year. In 2023, the average budget was reportedly still 26.2 million euros. However, the average is skewed by a handful of highly successful teams, such as Team UAE Emirates – XRG, Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe and Ineos Grenadiers. These teams are said to have a budget of around 50 million euros and can, naturally, pay their riders better. According to an estimate by Cyclingnews.com Team UAE Emirates – XRG is said to spend around 30 million euros on salaries alone. Unsurprisingly, Tadej Pogačar remains at the top of the earnings list with a basic annual salary of 8 million euros. This could rise to over 10 million euros through various bonuses.

Average salary of WorldTour riders

By way of comparison: the average salary of a self-employed WorldTour rider is 654,000 euros. However, this figure is heavily influenced by the high salaries of the top earners. This becomes quite clear when looking at the median – that is, the value that divides salaries into the top and bottom 50 per cent. The median salary for self-employed riders is just 350,000 euros. This means that 50 per cent of self-employed riders earn 350,000 euros or less, and 50 per cent earn 350,000 euros or more. However, this figure leaves open the question of just how ‘little’ the bottom 50 per cent of self-employed WorldTour riders actually earn. According to Domestique Cycling, the minimum salary for riders in this employment arrangement is said to be 72,404 euros. Permanent employees earn significantly less: the minimum salary is said to be around 44,150 euros, whilst the median is 216,000 euros.

Female professional cyclists continue to earn less

The pay gap between male and female professional cyclists persists and is already evident in the minimum salaries: for female riders on a contract, the minimum salary is 38,000 euros. The minimum salary for self-employed female riders is 62,320 euros. Nevertheless, there are signs of improvement in women’s cycling. Some top female riders are approaching the one-million mark, which points to a positive trend. Demi Vollering, one of last season’s most successful riders, is said to have negotiated a salary of just under one million euros as part of her move from Team SD Worx – Protime to FDJ-Suez in 2025. Her former team-mate Lotte Kopecky and Elisa Longo Borghini According to estimates, riders from UAE Team ADQ earned around 900,000 euros a year last season. This trend shows that, whilst women’s cycling is making progress in terms of remuneration, it still lags significantly behind men’s cycling. However, experts see a positive trend and expect salaries in women’s cycling to rise further in the coming years.

The salaries of the 10 highest-earning professional cyclists in 2026

Update: According to various media reports, contrary to initial reports, it is not Adam Yates, Egan Bernal and Carlos Rodríguez who feature in the top 10 of the salary list, but the riders Philipsen, Kooij and Ayuso.

1. Tadej Pogačar - approximately 8 million euros
2. Remco Evenepoel - approximately 6.6 million euros
3. ​Jonas Vingegaard - approximately 5 million euros
4. Mathieu van der Poel - approximately 4 million euros
5. ​Wout van Aert - approximately 4 million euros
6. ​Primož Roglič - approximately 4 million euros
7. Jasper Philipsen - approximately 3.2 million euros
8. ​Olav Kooij - approximately 3 million euros
9. Juan Ayuso - approximately 3 million euros
10. Tom Pidcock - approximately 2.7 million euros