Salaries in pro cycling

[RHRH19861986]

One can only hope it's closer to 100.000 that it is to 500.000.

Thomas Frei was on a 120.000 Swiss Francs contract at BMC at the beginning of 2010, which are about 100.000 EUR. During his breakthrough at Trentino, he was promised a massively improved salary if his development would go on like it did in Giro del Trentino. Weeks later, his positive EPO test result ended everything.

If Frei got 100.000 EUR already at this time, with his role in the team, I think Kohler is closer to 500.000 as to 100.000. Might be 300.000, maybe.

 

[Fus087]

If Frei got 100.000 EUR already at this time, with his role in the team, I think Kohler is closer to 500.000 as to 100.000. Might be 300.000, maybe.

That's ridiculous. Not that you claim it, but that someone who's essentially a support rider gets that much money - that's what the team captain makes on smaller teams.
Good for Kohler of course, but BMC really are Bicycling's Manchester City.

 

[RHRH19861986]

That's ridiculous. Not that you claim it, but that someone who's essentially a support rider gets that much money - that's what the team captain makes on smaller teams.
Good for Kohler of course, but BMC really are Bicycling's Manchester City.

Agree. It seems BMC´s main focus is not having the best possible results, but it´s having a bunch of really big names in the team. They get enough attention, so if they win, it´s good, if not, no one seems to really care also.
The same for RadioShack.

It was this way also at Telekom in some years. Riders were just happy to finally sign the team, earned a lot of money, and lost some hunger for success, because they thought, "I´ve signed Real Madrid, it can´t get any better and higher.".

 

[PeterB]

According to letter from UCI to Czech Cycling Fed, Kreuziger earned from Astana EUR 900,000 in 2011 and EUR 1,300,000 in 2012.

It does not say clearly but 70% of that was probably treated as salary and 30% as image rights.

 

[Arnout]

According to letter from UCI to Czech Cycling Fed, Kreuziger earned from Astana EUR 900,000 in 2011 and EUR 1,300,000 in 2012.

It does not say clearly but 70% of that was probably treated as salary and 30% as image rights.

No wonder he maintains he's innocent...

The fact that a second-tier rider at best (before his Amstel win he really hasn't been all that special for some time) earns this amount of money also indicates that the supposed financial problem of cycling isn't that big of an issue.

 

[Miburo]

No wonder he maintains he's innocent...

The fact that a second-tier rider at best (before his Amstel win he really hasn't been all that special for some time) earns this amount of money also indicates that the supposed financial problem of cycling isn't that big of an issue.

Nope at that time he was a potential 1st tier rider. Of course he failed but he was the best hope for a good GC in that team, he was paid that way. I'm actually surprised it wasn't more.

 

[sponsor]

Looking for the mean - not average

Anyone know the mean? 80th place in the TdF brings home??

What should be another thread - I wish UCI was run by more marketing/business people than cyclists. There appears to be a bias that those in the cycling business were actually riders. I don't think that is working out so well.

 

[nepetalactone]

The median is the number we're after here. The mean inflates the number due to the top earning the salary of several riders.

 

[sponsor]

The median is the number we're after here. The mean inflates the number due to the top earning the salary of several riders.

You're right. I typed one thinking the other.

 

[Asero831]

There are only 30 tennis players that were able to have more than a million prize money last year. So cycling is not really far off.
Im sure the 100th best cyclist earn more than the 100th rank tennis player

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

A guy like Federer gets 4 million in winning/salaries, but 52(!) in 'endorsements
Nadal 14M/30M

That's where the money's at '

 

[PeterB]

Re:

A guy like Federer gets 4 million in winning/salaries, but 52(!) in 'endorsements
Nadal 14M/30M

That's where the money's at '

Yeah, but the 100th ranked tennis player does not have this endorsement money. You would find 10 players perhaps with such out-of-sport earnings.

 

[Kokoso]

Re:

The fact that a second-tier rider at best

lol

 

[Red Rick]

It's super hard to become a tennis pro if you can't make the initial investment it takes to reach the top 100 in the first place. I've read stories about players ranked 500 having to put all of their money together to play some future tournament in atrocious circumstances, whilst they couldn't afford a hotel room or a physical therapist. That's unless you're crazy talented and you get significant help from national federations, sponsors or rich people. Now that the Grand Slams have raised the prize money in the first rounds you can get around if you're guaranteed to play them. The Aussie open first round had A$34000 in prize money. You can't really make a lot of money if you mainly play the challenger circuit, but if you do well, I guess you can get around. The big problem is that the prize money distribution is so incredibly top heavy and that there's no base salary. Most players I think do have endorsements, but I think that they're pretty small, unless you're top 20 or really marketable. Endorsements for the top players get so high because tennis is probably the most popular individual sport in the world and because Federer and Nadal in particular each have their own appeal and because their rivalry is so marketable. If Federer continues long enough he might become the next sports billionaire

It's waaayyy easier to become a cycling pro than a tennis pro I'm sure. There's got to be over 2000 pro's on continental level or higher and I'd guess there are several hundred riders making over 100k a year. That doesn't mean that cyclists are overpaid though, the real overpaid sports are probably soccer (especially the Premier League) and the american sports (baseball, American football, basketball, don't know about ice hockey), where you play no matches in a year and still have an 8 figure salary.

 

[PeterB]

Re: Re:

lol

while you have your fun, how about learning how to edit quotes properly?

And although that statement was not mine, I am now quite interested in hearing from you why Kreuziger should belong to first tier of riders.

 

[TMP402]

Re:

It's super hard to become a tennis pro if you can't make the initial investment it takes to reach the top 100 in the first place. I've read stories about players ranked 500 having to put all of their money together to play some future tournament in atrocious circumstances, whilst they couldn't afford a hotel room or a physical therapist. That's unless you're crazy talented and you get significant help from national federations, sponsors or rich people. Now that the Grand Slams have raised the prize money in the first rounds you can get around if you're guaranteed to play them. The Aussie open first round had A$34000 in prize money. You can't really make a lot of money if you mainly play the challenger circuit, but if you do well, I guess you can get around. The big problem is that the prize money distribution is so incredibly top heavy and that there's no base salary. Most players I think do have endorsements, but I think that they're pretty small, unless you're top 20 or really marketable. Endorsements for the top players get so high because tennis is probably the most popular individual sport in the world and because Federer and Nadal in particular each have their own appeal and because their rivalry is so marketable. If Federer continues long enough he might become the next sports billionaire

It's waaayyy easier to become a cycling pro than a tennis pro I'm sure. There's got to be over 2000 pro's on continental level or higher and I'd guess there are several hundred riders making over 100k a year. That doesn't mean that cyclists are overpaid though, the real overpaid sports are probably soccer (especially the Premier League) and the american sports (baseball, American football, basketball, don't know about ice hockey), where you play no matches in a year and still have an 8 figure salary.

I was with you until baseball. Although grossly overpaid, baseball teams play more than 150 times a year.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

It's super hard to become a tennis pro if you can't make the initial investment it takes to reach the top 100 in the first place. I've read stories about players ranked 500 having to put all of their money together to play some future tournament in atrocious circumstances, whilst they couldn't afford a hotel room or a physical therapist. That's unless you're crazy talented and you get significant help from national federations, sponsors or rich people. Now that the Grand Slams have raised the prize money in the first rounds you can get around if you're guaranteed to play them. The Aussie open first round had A$34000 in prize money. You can't really make a lot of money if you mainly play the challenger circuit, but if you do well, I guess you can get around. The big problem is that the prize money distribution is so incredibly top heavy and that there's no base salary. Most players I think do have endorsements, but I think that they're pretty small, unless you're top 20 or really marketable. Endorsements for the top players get so high because tennis is probably the most popular individual sport in the world and because Federer and Nadal in particular each have their own appeal and because their rivalry is so marketable. If Federer continues long enough he might become the next sports billionaire

It's waaayyy easier to become a cycling pro than a tennis pro I'm sure. There's got to be over 2000 pro's on continental level or higher and I'd guess there are several hundred riders making over 100k a year. That doesn't mean that cyclists are overpaid though, the real overpaid sports are probably soccer (especially the Premier League) and the american sports (baseball, American football, basketball, don't know about ice hockey), where you play no matches in a year and still have an 8 figure salary.

I was with you until baseball. Although grossly overpaid, baseball teams play more than 150 times a year.

With that particular part I was referring to some NBA players who didn't play a single minute in a season yet still making over 10million in a year

 

[nerian]

I used to play baseball in school leagues when i was younger, i still think baseball players are kindda overpaid. In terms of physical ability, it's not really a strenuous sport, if you get what i mean. It's not a very good spectator sport either, i rather play ball than to watch it honestly.

But they got their own stadiums, loyal fans, endorsements bla bla bla, money making machine.

Cycling has their loyal fans too, but i think the difference between them is the price of the gear.

Soccer boots are cheap enough for people to afford them, a couple hundred bucks and they last quite a while, if i'm not wrong, the Ronaldo CR7 soccer boots are like 200 bucks? That's about all you need, and a ball, to play soccer.

Baseball gloves are around 200 bucks for a quality one from Wilson or Rawlings, a ball and split the cost for the bat and you're good to go.

Tennis rackets are 300-400 bucks? Grab a ball and face a wall.

F1 and NASCAR are expensive but they got stadiums to sell season tickets, gear like key chains, watches? t-shirts bla bla bla.

Point is, stuff in cycling is too expensive for people to buy to support their team, you can't sell season tickets either because the races are outdoors. There's not much money to made from the fans and the coverage is pretty bad imo.

Cyclist should earn more money for the amount of training they do and time spent away from families, but unfortunately, there aren't many ways to get that money rolling in.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

I used to play baseball in school leagues when i was younger, i still think baseball players are kindda overpaid. In terms of physical ability, it's not really a strenuous sport, if you get what i mean. It's not a very good spectator sport either, i rather play ball than to watch it honestly.

But they got their own stadiums, loyal fans, endorsements bla bla bla, money making machine.

Cycling has their loyal fans too, but i think the difference between them is the price of the gear.

Soccer boots are cheap enough for people to afford them, a couple hundred bucks and they last quite a while, if i'm not wrong, the Ronaldo CR7 soccer boots are like 200 bucks? That's about all you need, and a ball, to play soccer.

Baseball gloves are around 200 bucks for a quality one from Wilson or Rawlings, a ball and split the cost for the bat and you're good to go.

Tennis rackets are 300-400 bucks? Grab a ball and face a wall.

F1 and NASCAR are expensive but they got stadiums to sell season tickets, gear like key chains, watches? t-shirts bla bla bla.

Point is, stuff in cycling is too expensive for people to buy to support their team, you can't sell season tickets either because the races are outdoors. There's not much money to made from the fans and the coverage is pretty bad imo.

Cyclist should earn more money for the amount of training they do and time spent away from families, but unfortunately, there aren't many ways to get that money rolling in.

You got a great point.

I also think it doesn't help that cycling as a sport has 0 sex appeal.