The UCI has just unveiled new minimum salaries that professional cyclists must be paid by their teams from the start of next year. The rates might surprise a few people.
New minimum salaries for professional cyclists
The UCI has recently signed off on a wage agreement that sets new minimum salaries for WorldTour and ProContinental professional cyclists.
And for the first time since 2013 the salaries are being increased. However, they are a long way off what many would expect, even for minimum wage rates.
Back in 2013 the lowest wage level for WorldTour professionals was stipulated as €36,000. And for riders at ProContinental level it was €30,250.
In the same agreement almost five years ago now, there were slightly lower rates for neo pros. These applied to riders joining a WorldTour or ProContinental team for the first time up to their 25th birthday.
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Salaries for the neo-pros were set at €29,370 for WorldTour level and €25,300 for ProContinental.
However, all of those rates will be replaced from January 1st next with new minimum salaries. These are set out in a new agreement published by the UCI.
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It has been agreed by the Professional Cyclists Association and International Association of Professional Cycling Groups.
Established pros at WorldTour level must be paid a minimum of €38,115; some €2,115 higher than before.
And riders at ProContinental level must be paid at least €30,855; an increase of €605.
And next year the rates for neo-pros are also increasing. A WorldTour new young pro gets a minimum of €30,893, an increase of €1,523 per year.
Professional cyclists get small increase
And their counterparts at ProConti must be paid at least €25,806. That’s just €506 higher than the level set in 2013; a paltry increase of €9.73 per week.
As part of the new agreement, further increases are set out for 2019 and 2020; two per cent each year.
There is no minimum wage for women or those competing at Continental level. The majority of those riders don’t paid at all or receive only very small subsistence payments.
Of course the figures set out in the new agreement only deal with minimum salaries. The salaries can, of course, go much higher for top riders.
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