**Tour de France’s Top Earners Revealed: Tadej Pogacar in a League of His Own**
The grand spectacle of the Tour de France often dazzles with its gripping mountain stages and fierce sprints, yet behind the scenes, the world’s elite cyclists are also engaging in a race for some of the most impressive pay packets in professional sport. While many might assume footballers or tennis stars to be among the highest-paid athletes, the salaries of top cyclists are quickly rising, with a select few enjoying lucrative contracts.
Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar continues to outpace the peloton—not just on the road, but in his earnings as well. In 2025, Pogacar remains cycling’s best-compensated athlete, earning a staggering £7 million annually through his contract with UAE Team Emirates XRG. This reflects the growing commercial appeal of the sport, as well as Pogacar’s dominance since bursting onto the scene and securing an impressive collection of yellow jerseys.
The financial gap between Pogacar and his nearest rivals is substantial. Belgian star Remco Evenepoel holds the second spot with annual earnings reported at £4.3 million—a figure nearly half that of Pogacar’s haul. Interestingly, Evenepoel reportedly declined a pioneering offer of £8.7 million per year from Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, instead opting for a renewed but less dramatic salary with Soudal-Quick Step. His decision to turn down potentially record-breaking wages highlights the complex priorities top athletes consider, balancing team loyalty and career trajectory.
Meanwhile, Primoz Roglic, another Slovenian cycling sensation, commands a salary of approximately £3.9 million at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. Roglic’s journey is distinctive: having only turned professional at 23, he swiftly ascended to the sport’s upper echelons, proving that late bloomers can still cash in at cycling’s highest level.
Further down the list, two notable names are tied for fourth place in the wage rankings. Danish champion Jonas Vingegaard and Dutch all-rounder Mathieu van der Poel each take home around £3.5 million per year. Notably, Vingegaard’s earnings soared following his back-to-back Tour de France titles, having initially earned a comparatively modest £400,000 in his breakout year. Conversely, van der Poel had his 2025 Tour cut short due to illness, an unfortunate setback at a time when he was excelling in the green jersey classification.
Completing the upper echelons of earners, Wout van Aert of Jumbo-Visma, renowned for his extraordinary versatility across disciplines, brings in £3 million per annum. Hot on his heels is Great Britain’s Adam Yates, whose current salary stands at £2.35 million. These figures reinforce cycling’s growing international profile and the financial rewards available for exceptional performance.
British interest extends further with Tom Pidcock, the Leeds-born Olympic champion, who matches several of his continental peers with a salary of £2.3 million. Though not present at this year’s Tour, Pidcock remains a pivotal rider for Ineos Grenadiers, showcasing British prowess not just on the track but in contracts as well. Among his team-mates, 2019 Tour winner Egan Bernal and promising young Spaniard Carlos Rodriguez each earn £2.2 million per year, despite Bernal’s ongoing recovery from serious injuries.
Contract negotiations and renewals are critical in cycling, as evidenced by Rodriguez’s extension through to 2027. This security speaks volumes about Ineos’ confidence in his talents and the high stakes at play for both riders and teams investing in future success.
The landscape of professional cycling is clearly shifting. Although still some way off the astronomical salaries in football or American sports, leading cyclists now command significant reward for their physical prowess, tactical brilliance, and relentless dedication. With sponsorship and media attention intensifying, the gaps in earning power across the peloton are only likely to widen in future Tour de France editions.
**Cycling’s Highest-Paid Riders in 2025:**
1. Tadej Pogacar (£7m)
2. Remco Evenepoel (£4.3m)
3. Primoz Roglic (£3.9m)
4. Jonas Vingegaard (£3.5m)
4. Mathieu van der Poel (£3.5m)
6. Wout van Aert (£3m)
7. Adam Yates (£2.35m)
8. Tom Pidcock (£2.3m)
9. Egan Bernal (£2.2m)
10. Carlos Rodriguez (£2.2m)
As the Tour marches toward Paris, the rivalry on the tarmac is matched by a discreet competition for status and salary, further elevating the sport’s profile on the global stage. The financial rewards now on offer are a testament to cycling’s evolution into a truly international blockbuster, with British stars continuing to play a central role.