I just learned this tidbit today and thought I would share it while I had it.
This is for this year’s Tour de France and not all cycling races.
Yellow jersey – 450,000 euros (about $690,000)
Green (points) jersey – 25,000 euros (about $37,500)
Polka dot (KOM) jersey – 25,000 euros (about $37,500)
White (young rider) jersey – 20,000 euros (about $29,500)
The most aggressive rider, too, is awarded an overall prize of 20,000 euros (about $29,500).
Stage winners earn 8000 euros.
It is customary for the Yellow Jersey winner to not accept his prize money but to divide it evenly among his teammates. The Yellow Jersey winner will earn quite a bit more in endorsements, interviews, speaking engagments, secondary races he is obligued to enter, and contract improvements. Since he couldn’t be in that position without his team this is how he rewards them for their efforts. I don’t know if every Yellow Jersey winner does this but I do know that Lance Armstrong did this for all 7 of his wins.
1 Comment
14 July 2008 at 1:06 pm
Congratulations on your blog! As a cycling fan myself I am also addicted to the “Le Tour” and I am looking for as much info as possible. The Ricco climb yesterday was very impressive! We have a climb ride here in our city that rides up and over the Franklin Mountains. It’s very difficult and very challenging. It makes you truely appreciate what these climbers go through.
Mauricio