Professional cycling team budgets are increasing year on year, with riders and staff earning more and teams spending more on performance, travel, altitude camps and every detail that can help them win races and score UCI ranking points.
Pro cycling’s ‘teamflation’ is driven by some of the top men’s squads spending their way to success, with the teams contending for the Tour de France‘s top prize of the yellow jersey operating on budgets above €50 million per season.
According to official accounts prepared by the UCI and obtained by La Gazzetta dello Sport last winter, the combined budget of all men’s WorldTour teams for 2025 was €570 million, having risen dramatically from €379 million in 2021 and €499 million in 2024.
The average men’s team budget for 2025 was €32 million, up from €28 million in 2024 and €20 million in 2021. The median figure sat at €27 million, excluding the near €60 million budget of UAE Team Emirates-XRG and the by-comparison slender €17 million budget of Arkea-B&B Hotels.
Tadej Pogačar is the most successful rider in the sport and naturally the highest earner, picking up a salary estimated to be €8 million per year, with bonuses pushing his total earnings closer to €10 million. Each of the men’s WorldTour teams includes several leaders earning over €1 million per season, with a few women’s salaries also close to that amount.
Excellent return on investment despite rising costs
According to the La Gazzetta dello Sport’s data, 87% of WorldTour team revenue comes directly from sponsors, who fortunately receive return on their investment thanks to team naming rights and excellent brand visibility, especially at the Tour de France. The pro cycling business model is precarious, but fortunately doesn’t usually lead to major debts.
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