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.
1. Tadej Pogačar - €8 million
Slovenian rider Tadej Pogačar is ineitably the world's highest paid cyclist, with a salary in the region of €8 million for 2026. He's just won his fifth Tour de France to add to his 2024 Giro d'Italia, three Tour of Flanders and five Giro di Lombardia. | BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images
2. Remco Evenepoel
His recent transfer to the Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe team has been profitable for Belgian star Remco Evenepoel, who now earns €6.6 million per year. He came second in this year's Tour de France and won gold at the last Olympic Games. | BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images
3. Jonas Vingegaard
Two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard gets paid around €5 million by Visma | Lease a Bike, putting him third in the rich list. One of the greatest climbers in history, he's one of only eight riders to have won all three Grand Tours. | AFP via Getty Images
4. Mathieu van der Poel
Alpecin-Premier Tech rider Mathieu van der Poel is one of three pro cyclists thought to be on around €4 million a year. The Dutch star has won eight Cyclo-cross World Championships, a Gravel World Championship and a Road World Championship, becoming the only man to triumph in three different cycling disciplines. | AFP via Getty Images