Anyone have any idea what these riders are pulling down $ ?
Enough money to retire at 33!!! but i’m sure they are all not so lucky…
depends on what division they are…
some are a “Pro” but don’t make a salary at all…
I read (on the internet) that Discovery pulled down 400000 euros for the Tour. Not bad until you figure that Euskatel made something like 6500 for the whole tour to split
Forbes said Lance made $28mil last year. Roughly $5mil was from his Disco contract and the rest from Subaru, Coke, Nike, etc. Basso just extended with CSC for $3mil/year through 2009.
Most of them at the domestique level on a major pro team are making six figures and maybe multi six figures. They must invest wisely and live carefully so they are verdant cheapskates despite a hefty salary. They also have to be energetic and creative in marketing themselves once the riding is over. All in all, lie most other things, pretty tough way to earn a living.
he ha retired from racing, but not from cycling … he will make more next year in endorsements and his own line of performance toothpaste
he ha retired from racing, but not from cycling … he will make more next year in endorsements and his own line of performance toothpaste
Is he teaming up with Dieter Baumann?
yes, and he will also have his own line of Pez dispensers
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I spoke to a UCI coach during the olympic trials last year and discussed this exact subject.
I asked him what he thought about the top domestic cyclist made, at the time Chris Horner.
He estimated 70k including everything, prizes, endorsements, primes…nothing like Hincape, Julich, Hamilton(?), etc…
That’s alot of work for not much money. Hopefully Horner is pulling in more cash these days, or at least on his next contract.
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I believe Horner took a cut in pay, but yeah, hopefully it’ll pay off for him long term.
I thought I heard somewhere that Horner was making 6 figure as the top domestic (basically the low end of 6 figures - 100 Gs). He said he took a pay cut to go to SD, one has to wonder how many years left he has in him.
US Pro are lucky to make a take home of $20k a year.
Top (division 1) International teams are much higher…but, there are A teams and B teams. Not all of Discovery was at the tour.
I was there…dreaming way back in the day playing the USCF game…it is NOT an easy life and you may have a better chance at pitching for the Yankees…
I have a friend who has raced the last few years on a division 3 team. He gets most travel, food, entries, gear paid for… but, he earns zero dollars. Another friend of mine has been a domestic pro for the last 4 years. That person is excited because next year will be earning 600-800 dollars a month…
I agree about the low pay. When I lived in Europe I remember hearing that most of the pro cyclists made less than $20K per year. Most struggled financially until they either got their shot at the big leagues (which is very very unusual), or until they got let go by one team too many and finally went out and got a job. They live from one season contract to the next, are treated like crap, and are paid slave wages. Why, well because the teams themselves don’t get a lot in sponsorship money (this does not apply to Discovery who I’m sure has a lucrative contract unheard of in cycling until now). Basically, unless you’re rich or get lucky and make the A team early in your career, you will leave the profession and go get a job just to make ends meets.
Personally I’d rather be broke and ride on an European bike team than pitch for the Yankees.
Isn’t the current minimum salary for a D1 team around $35K USD? I seem to remember reading that somewhere … CycleSport, ProCycling, or one of the Brit magazines.