The 20 Highest-Paid Cyclists in 2024–2025

Top 20 Highest-Paid Male Cyclists (2024–2025)

Cycling has never been more lucrative. As the sport’s global audience grows — powered by Netflix documentaries, new sponsors, and billion-euro teams — the paychecks of its biggest stars have soared to unprecedented heights. The once-modest world of pro cycling now sees annual salaries rivaling those in tennis or Formula 1. From Tour de France champions to multi-discipline icons like Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Pidcock, the sport’s elite are redefining what it means to be both athlete and brand.
This ranking of the Top 20 Highest-Paid Male Cyclists for 2024–2025 reveals who leads the financial peloton — and how performance, personality, and global marketability shape modern cycling’s richest contracts.

1. Tadej Pogačar — €8–12 million/year
   The Slovenian star and two-time Tour de France winner is cycling’s biggest earner. His long-term contract with UAE Team Emirates runs through 2030 and is reportedly worth around €8 million per season. Add performance bonuses and sponsorships from major cycling brands, and his annual income exceeds €12 million.

2. Remco Evenepoel — ~€8 million/year
   The Belgian prodigy renewed his deal with Soudal–Quick-Step after multiple world titles and an Olympic gold. His base pay is about €5 million, with bonuses and endorsements pushing his total close to €8 million. Offers from rival teams reportedly went even higher.

3. Mathieu van der Poel — €5–6 million/year
   The Dutch multi-discipline world champion earns a premium salary from Alpecin–Deceuninck plus long-term deals with major sponsors. His appeal spans road, cyclocross, and MTB, and his personal partnerships with bike and watch brands push his total well above €5 million.

4. Jonas Vingegaard — €4.5–6 million/year
   Two-time Tour de France champion and Visma–Lease a Bike leader. His extension through 2028 elevated him to among the sport’s best-paid riders. Danish national fame and sponsor deals add to his total.

5. Primož Roglič — €4.5 million/year
   The Giro d’Italia and multiple Vuelta winner moved to Red Bull–Bora-hansgrohe for one of cycling’s richest veteran contracts. Sponsors contribute heavily to his pay, rewarding his long record of consistency.

6. Tom Pidcock — ~€4.5 million/year
   Britain’s Olympic MTB gold medalist and Tour de France stage winner maintains elite earnings after his move from Ineos to Q36.5. Red Bull and bike sponsorships add substantially.

7. Wout van Aert — €3.8 million/year
   Belgium’s all-rounder superstar earns top-tier pay as Team Visma’s mainstay. His crossover success in cyclocross and road classics and signature personal brand keep his value high.

8. Jasper Philipsen — €3.2 million/year
   The fastest sprinter in the world right now, with back-to-back Tour de France green jerseys. His recent multi-year extension made him one of cycling’s richest sprinters ever.

9. Chris Froome — €3.0 million/year
   Four-time Tour de France champion still earns millions under his long-term Israel-Premier Tech deal, despite a decline in results. His legacy and fame keep him valuable.

10. Mads Pedersen — €2.8 million/year
    Former world champion and Lidl-Trek classics powerhouse. His consistency and leadership earn him nearly €3 million annually.

11. Egan Bernal — €2.7–3.0 million/year
    The Colombian Tour de France champion secured a top-tier deal with Ineos Grenadiers before his crash, which still pays full value as he rebuilds form.

12. Adam Yates — €2.7 million/year
    UAE Team Emirates signed him as a co-leader and elite climber. His reliability and Tour de France podiums justify his pay.

13. Tao Geoghegan Hart — €2.5+ million/year
    Giro d’Italia champion now leading Lidl-Trek’s GC program. His move from Ineos boosted his salary.

14. Jai Hindley — €2.5 million/year
    Australia’s Giro champion remains one of Bora’s highest-paid. His Tour podium potential secures his premium salary.

15. João Almeida — €2.5 million/year + bonuses
    Consistent Grand Tour contender with UAE Team Emirates. Heavy performance-based bonuses can lift him well above base salary.

16. Richard Carapaz — €2.3 million/year
    Olympic champion and former Giro winner leads EF Education-EasyPost. Among the top-paid riders from the Americas.

17. Juan Ayuso — €2.2 million/year
    Spain’s young star has a long-term UAE deal through 2028. Rising performances already justify his investment-level pay.

18. Geraint Thomas — €2.0 million/year
    The 2018 Tour de France winner took a modest pay cut for a final extension with Ineos but remains among the highest-paid veterans.

19. Peter Sagan — ~€2.0 million/year (endorsements)
    Though retired from top-level road racing, his ambassador and sponsorship roles continue to bring in around €2 million annually.

20. Other Disciplines (MTB, BMX, Track)
    Even the best mountain bikers or BMX riders rarely exceed €1 million a year, showing how road cycling dominates in earning power.

Summary

Cycling has entered an unprecedented era of financial growth. Today’s stars not only define the races but also shape the business of the sport. From Pogačar’s record contract to Armstrong’s historical earnings, the sport’s best are finally earning like true global athletes — proving that winning on two wheels can now mean winning at the bank, too.