Pogacar is the highest paid cyclist of 2024 and is proving why

Tadej Pogacar repeats as number 1 in the list of highest paid cyclists in 2024, however, his immediate pursuer in this ranking has become Primoz Roglic after the important bet made by Bora-Hansgrohe. We'll see if the Slovenian is able to live up to expectations.

The list of the highest paid cyclists in 2024

Comparing the 6 million euros that the highest paid cyclist of 2024 earns per season with the 225 million dollars that Al-Nassr of the Saudi Arabian league pays to a player already in the twilight of his career like Cristiano Ronaldo may seem obscene. But the world of cycling has the media impact it has and the salaries are in line with the market.

The ranking of the highest paid riders in the world is updated thanks to the information published by the prestigious Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, in which there are several notable changes compared to previous years as the improvement in the price of Primoz Roglic or as Mathieu van der Poel has been able to capitalize on his World Championship to move up several places in the list.

10. Carlos Rodríguez - 2.5 million euros

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The Spaniard, after his tremendous victory in Morzine in the 2023 Tour de France against the best in the peloton and after aligning his non-signing by Movistar with the urgent need for a leader for the grand tours by INEOS-Grenadiers, is among the most sought-after riders in the world. Let's hope that the pressure will not be a burden on the evolution of Carlos Rodriguez and that he can show us sooner rather than later all the class that his legs possess despite having to deal with monsters like Vingegaard or Pogacar in the grand tours.

9. Egan Bernal – 2.5 million euros

The case of Egan Bernal, who continues to be one of INEOS Grenadiers' highest paid cyclists despite the significant drop in his performance since the serious accident he suffered at the end of January 2022, is a curious one. However, the Colombian cyclist was lucky because just a few weeks before this event he had renewed his contract, which expires in 2026, so that, for financial purposes, he continues to be paid as if he were one of the leaders. In fact, his salary is the same amount that Carlos Rodriguez will receive, after his last renewal as the theoretical leader of the British team for the Tour de France.

8. Adam Yates - 2.7 million euros

The great performance of the British rider during the last Tour de France 2023 in which he occupied the third step of the podium in addition to victories such as the one in Romandie and countless places of honor throughout the season justifies the assessment of him in UAE Team Emirates. A rider who always responds and who, not only is the main lieutenant of Tadej Pogacar, but also does not mind the bragging rights when it comes to taking responsibility.

7. Tom Pidcock – 2.7 million euros

Although in previous rankings he appeared better placed, it seems that his real salary was overestimated, appearing in this latest update by the Italian newspaper with a remuneration more in line with the salary that INEOS-Grenadiers assigns to its stars and their performance. A performance that not only refers to his efficiency in terms of victories, few still on the road but selected, but for his media and multidisciplinary character that place him as the reference in mountain biking.

6. Remco Evenepoel - 2.8 million euros

Former World Champion, with a Vuelta to his credit, dominator in the last two seasons of the Liège-Bastogne-Liège and animator of the last edition of La Vuelta despite suffering a fiasco in his aspirations after which many would have opted to go home. There is no doubt that Remco Evenepoel is one of the biggest stars of today, although his contract signed in 2021, when he was still hobbling from his terrible crash in Lombardy, does not put him at the height of his true cachet. Perhaps it's better not to count on that extra pressure for a rider who is constantly being pushed and whose real ability in grand tours has been constantly questioned. We'll see what he's capable of in his 2024 Tour de France debut.

5. Wout van Aert - 3.5 million euros

After the fantastic Tour de France he rode in 2022, with an inhuman week full of victories, vital work for his team and yellow jersey for several days included, and a rest of the Grande Boucle going all out for what would be Jonas Vingegaard's first Tour de France, Wout van Aert extended his contract with Jumbo-Visma until 2026. Therefore, he lives in a fairly comfortable situation that allows him to have a not particularly brilliant year like 2023 without fear of starting to lose cache. In any case, few of us doubt the genius that the Belgian cyclist is capable of.

4. Mathieu van der Poel - 4 million euros

Mathieu van der Poel, whose contract with Alpecin-Deceuninck dates from 2021 to 2025, is valued at similar figures to those of his arch-rival Wout van Aert. A figure that also seems too low for a rider who has been able to add two Monuments, San Remo and Roubaix, and two World Championships, road and cyclo-cross, during the recent season, in addition to uncovering during the Tour 2023 as a fantastic launcher for his teammate Philipsen. For now he has started this year, in his shortened cyclocross campaign, in such an arrogant way that will surely serve him to be able to consider an improvement in the near future.

3. Jonas Vingegaard - 4 million euros

It is surprising, to say the least, to have to go down to 3rd place in the ranking of the highest paid cyclists to find the winner of the last two editions of the Tour de France. In any case, he is only surpassed by a Primoz Roglic signed at the stroke of a chequebook and an arrogant Tadej Pogacar.

2. Primoz Roglic – 4.5 million euros

The Slovenian rider's price has risen after joining Bora-Hansgroe, in fact, previous rankings placed his emoluments at around 2 million euros, a meager figure for a cyclist who has two Vueltas a España and a Giro d'Italia to his credit. Perhaps in the comparative disadvantage compared to Jonas Vingegaard, as well as in the sporting aspect of not having to share the accolades, the justification for his departure from Jumbo-Visma is to be found.

1. Tadej Pogacar – 6 million euros

The world's best cyclist has a firm contract with UAE Team Emirates until 2027. Despite not having recently updated his contract, he continues to dominate the earnings rankings with his salary estimated at around 6 million euros per season (after winning the Giro 2024 there is talk of an imminent contract renewal that would raise his salary to 8 million). A figure that will prevent anyone from trying to steal the Emirati team's most prized pearl.

Top 10 highest paid cyclists in 2024

1. Tadej Pogacar - 6 million euros
2. Primoz Roglic - 4.5 million euros
3. Jonas Vingegaard - 4 million euros
4. Mathieu van der Poel - 4 million euros
5. Wout van Aert - 3.5 million euros
6. Remco Evenepoel - 2.8 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