Professional cyclists earn a fraction as much as other top sports figures, even as the sport's most prestigious event, the Tour de France, is far more gruelling than most sports.
In the battle for the famous yellow overall leader's jersey - the most visible of the prizes on offer during the Tour de France - cyclists in the race can earn cash for more than their ranking at the end.
In addition to the overall timed classification - the winner completes the total distance in the shortest amount of time - there are several other minor competitions: for points gained during the stage and at the finish, points gained atop mountains, a combined timed team classification and a separate purse for the best riders under the age of 26.
The total prize pot is €2,574,991 in 2026 - a pittance compared to Wimbledon (£62 million overall, £3.6 million for singles winners).
The winner of the Tour de France takes home €500,000, and each rider who finishes the race in Paris will take home at least €1,000.
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There are daily prizes for each stage where the winner of the day gets €11,000, the leader of the race gets €500 for each day in the yellow jersey, and the other jersey holders earn €300 for wearing either the green points jersey, polka dot mountains jersey or white shirt of best young rider.
There is a €2,000 prize for the most aggressive rider on each stage and €20,000 for the overall combativity classification winner as well as cash for crossing each categorised climb first and more.
Riders traditionally pool their prize money, with one rider in each team designated as accountant. A share of prize money is also given to the hard-working team staff.
Teams and sponsors also award special performance bonuses, but the amounts are rarely made public. Success in the Tour de France is rewarded by bigger and better contracts for the following seasons, with a Tour de France winner often set to earn between three and five million per season – among the best-paid contracts in the sport.
Daily prizes
Ranking |
Prize (€) |
|
1 |
11,000 |
|
2 |
5,500 |
|
3 |
2,800 |
|
4 |
1,500 |
|
5 |
830 |
|
6 |
780 |
|
7 |
730 |
|
8 |
670 |
|
9 |
650 |
|
10 |
600 |
|
11 |
540 |
|
12 |
470 |
|
13 |
440 |
|
14 |
340 |
|
15 |
300 |
|
16 |
300 |
|
17 |
300 |
|
18 |
300 |
|
19 |
300 |
|
20 |
300 |
Ranking |
Intermediate Sprint |
1 |
€1,500 |
2 |
€1,000 |
3 |
€500 |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
|
Col du Galibier (Stage 20) |
€5,000 |
||
Col du Tourmalet (Stage 6) |
€5,000 |
||
HC |
€800 |
€450 |
€300 |
Cat. 1 |
€650 |
€400 |
€150 |
Cat. 2 |
€500 |
€250 |
|
Cat. 3 |
€300 |
||
Cat. 4 |
€200 |
Prize (€) |
|
|---|---|
Week 1 |
2,000 |
Week 2 |
2,000 |
Week 3 |
2,000 |
Stage |
Prize (€) |
2-15, 17-20 |
2,000 |
Stages |
Prize (€) |
|---|---|
1-21 |
2,800 |
Jersey |
Prize (€) |
|---|---|
Yellow (GC) |
500 |
Green (Points) |
300 |
Polka dot (Mountains) |
300 |
White (Youth) |
300 |
Best teammate |
3,000 |
Most aggressive |
20,000 |
Final classification prizes
Final ranking |
Prize (€) |
|---|---|
1 |
500,000 |
2 |
200,000 |
3 |
100,000 |
4 |
70,000 |
5 |
50,000 |
6 |
23,000 |
7 |
11,500 |
8 |
7,600 |
9 |
4,500 |
10 |
3,800 |
11 |
3,000 |
12 |
2,700 |
13 |
2,500 |
14 |
2,100 |
15 |
2,000 |
16 |
1,500 |
17 |
1,300 |
18 |
1,200 |
19 |
1,100 |
20th-160th |
1,000 |
Ranking |
Prize (€) |
|---|---|
1 |
25,000 |
2 |
15,000 |
3 |
10,000 |
4 |
4,000 |
5 |
3,500 |
6 |
3,000 |
7 |
2,500 |
8 |
2,000 |
Ranking |
Prize (€) |
|---|---|
1 |
20,000 |
2 |
15,000 |
3 |
10,000 |
4 |
5,000 |
Ranking |
Prize (€) |
|---|---|
1 |
50,000 |
2 |
30,000 |
3 |
20,000 |
4 |
12,000 |
5 |
8,000 |
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