It’s one of the most gruelling sports there is, with top cyclists carrying out superhuman feats as part of their daily job, but if you manage to become one of the world’s top cyclists then you are richly rewarded.
While the prize money on offer doesn’t match the likes of tennis or golf, Tadej Pogačar still earnt over €500,000 for winning this year’s Tour de France.
Unlike many sports, these competitors earn the majority of their cash from being paid a salary by their racing team - a figure they can then bolster with money-spinning advertising and sponsorship deals, personal appearances and shrewd investments.
Here are the top 10 highest paid cyclists in the world in 2026.
5. Wout Van Aert
Team Visma | Lease a Bike is also thought to be paying Belgian cyclist Wout van Aert around €4 million a year. He can boast of more than fifty professional road wins, including ten stage victories at the Tour de France. | AFP via Getty Images
6. Primož Roglic
Slovenian Primoz Roglic cycles for the Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe team, who pay him an annual salary of around €4 million. He has won the Vuelta a España a record-tying four times. | AFP via Getty Images
7. Thomas Pidcock
Tom Pidcock is the highest paid British cyclist with Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team paying him an estimated €2.7 million a year. He won back-to-back Olympic golds for cross-country mountain bike in 2020 and 2024. | BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images
8. UAE Team Emirates - XRG
Adam Yates is thought to be on a salary of around €2.7 million at UAE Team Emirates-XRG. | AFP via Getty Images