Cycling team budgets in 2026: how much do WorldTour teams really spend?
The budgets of professional cycling teams are reaching new heights in 2026. According to exclusive data published by Gazzetta dello Sport, spending across the men’s WorldTour continues to rise sharply, driven largely by sponsorship deals and new commercial partnerships. All figures cited are based on Gazzetta dello Sport’s reporting.
Total WorldTour budget tops €663 million
Back in 2021, the combined budget of all men’s WorldTour teams stood at €379 million. By 2024, that figure had grown to €499 million. In 2025, the total surpassed the €570 million mark – an increase of €71 million in just one year and nearly 50% growth in four years. In 2026 the budget has risen to 663 million.
The average therefore rises from €31.6 million in 2025 to €33.1 million in 2026. In practice, the biggest teams operate in a different bracket altogether, with UAE and Visma reportedly closer to €50 million, and Lidl-Trek, Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe and INEOS Grenadiers around €45 million.
Notably, 87% of that total comes directly from sponsors, underlining just how dependent modern pro cycling remains on brand partnerships.
Average and median team budgets WorldTour
- Average team budget 33.1 million (2026): €32 million (compared to 32 in 2025, 28 in 2024, and 20 in 2021)
- Median team budget: €28 million (excluding the richest and smallest-budget teams, 27 in 2025)
This range highlights the significant financial gap between the top teams and those with more modest resources.
Rider salaries pro cyclists 2026
When it comes to rider earnings, Tadej Pogačar tops the list. The Slovenian reportedly earns a bit more than €8 million per year at UAE Team Emirates. His contract runs until 2030.
The UCI shared average salary figures for WorldTour riders in 2026:
- Self-employed riders: average €654,000 (€636,000, in 2025)
- Employed riders: average €384,000 (€366,000, in 2025)
However, the wage gap is widening. Superstars like Pogačar, Evenepoel, Van der Poel, and Vingegaard earn millions, while mid-tier riders see far smaller paychecks.
ProTeams and women’s WorldTour budgets
Budget increases aren't limited to the top tier. Teams in both the men’s ProTeam division and the Women’s WorldTour have seen sharp growth:
- Men’s ProTeams: total budget of €159 million across 17 teams in 2025 (up from €99 million in 2022). The figure for 2026 is not know yet.
- Average ProTeam budget: €9.4 million in 2025. The figure for 2026 is not know yet.
- Women’s WorldTour: from €33 million in 2022 to €70 million in 2025, with 15 teams competing. In 2026 this will rise to €80 million in 2026, with 14 teams.
