The highest-paid cyclists in the world in 2026: Pogacar continues to lead the ranking.

Cycling is increasingly raising the budget bar for teams, and their stars are also signing ever-higher contracts. In 2026, Tadej Poga?ar once again leads the ranking of the highest-paid cyclists in the world, but his salary is far from the minimum salary of a cyclist or the average salary of the peloton for this season. Here we tell you everything.

Updated list of the highest-paid cyclists in the peloton in 2026

Professional cycling does not move the astronomical figures of other global sports like football or the NBA, but the salaries of its great stars continue to grow season after season. In 2026, the contracts of the main figures in the WorldTour peloton show how the market continues to reward riders capable of winning grand tours, monuments, or leading sports projects with a huge media impact.

How much money does Tadej Pogacar earn?

At the top of the ranking is Tadej Poga?ar, who maintains his position as the highest-paid cyclist in the world. The Slovenian, leader of UAE Team Emirates-XRG, earns around 8 million euros annually in base salary, a figure to which significant bonuses for victories in grand tours or world championships can be added, and it is estimated that it could reach up to 12 million a year. His sporting dominance and enormous media value continue to justify a contract that keeps him as the great economic reference of the peloton.

The salaries of Evenepoel and Vingegaard complete the podium of the highest-paid cyclists

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Behind the Slovenian is Remco Evenepoel, who after joining Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe in 2026 is positioned as the second highest-paid cyclist in the world with about 6.6 million euros annually.

The third place goes to Jonas Vingegaard, leader of Team Visma | Lease a Bike and two-time Tour de France winner, who earns approximately 5 million euros per season.

Cyclists in the four million club

One step below is a group of riders earning around 4 million euros annually, made up of some of the big names in current cycling.

Among them is the reigning world champion Mathieu van der Poel, as well as Wout van Aert and Primo? Rogli?, three riders capable of competing in both grand tours and top-level classics.

Salaries in the second half of the Top 10

The ranking is completed by several familiar names among the leaders or luxury domestiques in the grand tours.

The British Tom Pidcock, now with the Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, ranks seventh with 2.7 million euros, the same amount earned by Adam Yates with UAE Team Emirates-XRG.

Closing the list are two riders from INEOS Grenadiers, Egan Bernal and the Spaniard Carlos Rodríguez, both with salaries close to 2.5 million euros annually.

Top 10 highest-paid cyclists in 2026

1. Tadej Pogacar – 8 million euros (up to 12 million with bonuses)
2. Remco Evenepoel – 6.6 million euros
3. Jonas Vingegaard – 5 million euros
4. Mathieu van der Poel – 4 million euros
5. Wout van Aert – 4 million euros
6. Primoz Roglic – 4 million euros
7. Tom Pidcock – 2.7 million euros
8. Adam Yates – 2.7 million euros
9. Egan Bernal – 2.5 million euros
10. Carlos Rodríguez – 2.5 million euros

What is the average salary of a professional cyclist?

The figures of the big names in the peloton can give a distorted impression of the salary market in professional cycling. According to data shared by the UCI, the average salary of a male WorldTour cyclist in 2026 is around 538,000 euros annually, a figure slightly higher than that recorded in 2025 (500,000€).

If contracts are separated by type, self-employed riders average around 654,000 euros a year, while cyclists with employment contracts have an average close to 384,000 euros. In any case, these figures are heavily influenced by the salaries of the big stars of the peloton, as most WorldTour riders operate within a much lower salary range, typically between 250,000 and 400,000 euros per season.

What is the minimum a professional cyclist earns?

The minimum salary for professional cyclists is also regulated by the UCI and is reviewed periodically. For the 2026 season, male WorldTour riders must earn at least 44,150 euros annually if they have an employment contract, while those who work as self-employed must earn a minimum of 72,404 euros.

These figures mark the economic entry point to the highest level of professional cycling, especially for young riders debuting in the WorldTour. Even so, within the peloton, there are significant differences, as many domestiques or support riders in professional teams may earn relatively modest salaries compared to the big stars of the sport.