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"A salary cap is a stupid idea" - Tadej Pogacar's agent Alex Carera insists riders remain underpaid
CyclingWednesday, 26 June 2024 at 20:30
Nowadays, the elite cyclists are paid more than ever before. In fact, at the recent Giro d'Italia, Maglia Rosa winner Tadej Pogacar earned an incredible €414,751 through prize money alone. Although some are calling for a salary cap to level the playing field, super agent Alex Carera is firmly against the idea as "cyclists are still underpaid!"
"I think that a salary cap is a stupid idea., because the system used in the NBA is totally different business; every cycling team has different rules in the country where they are registered," Carera responds to talk of salary caps in conversation with Portuguese Cycling Magazine. "I think that the best team and the best manager are the best because they can find more money to have the best riders. Therefore, a salary cap is not a solution to create more competition between different teams."
There's no doubt about it, as more money enters the sport, the difference between the strongest teams and even the rest of the World Tour is growing. UAE Team Emirates and Team Visma | Lease to name two, could realistically name two or three lineups for the 2024 Tour de France with viable Maillot Jaune ambitions. Would a salary cap ensure things were more competitive across the peloton?
According to Carera, the other teams must simply do better at finding more sponsorship and making money in other ways to reach the level of the best, not drag the best down to their level. In fact, the super agent has also come up with what he believes to be a solution. "The solution is to work better in nutrition, equipment, and so on. The best manager also finds the best talent," he explains. "Sometimes it’s not because you have more money that you can be sure to get more results; otherwise, there would be no competition."
"The impact of commercialisation is very big. To Red Bull or Decathlon, I add Jayco or Tudor. It’s very important, because these are examples that, if people love cycling, the big brands love cycling. It not only benefits the teams and the riders, but all parties, even the press. If there is more money in our sport, the cake is bigger, and all parties can have a bigger slice," Carera concludes. "Cycling is the best sport in the world to promote a brand, because the name of the brand is the name of the team. When Real Madrid wins the Champions League, it’s Real Madrid, not Emirates, also with the jersey. Cycling gives the best return of investment for each sponsor. Now there are some good brands, but in the future, I hope that different companies open their eyes and invest more money in our sport. Because it’s the best sport in the world!"
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