€50.000 euro prize pot at Women's Tour des Flandres equals Men's in an effort to increase equality

Another step is being taken by Flanders Classics as they announced that by 2023, both men's and women's races organized by them will have equal prize money, and this year that will already be the case with the Tour de Flandres as they will feature a €50,000 euro prize pot for the women's peloton.

“This season we are making the effort to increase the prize money in the women’s edition of the Tour of Flanders to 50,000 euros, the same amount that is distributed among the winners in the men’s edition. From 2023, the intention is to equalize the prize money for all our spring competitions," Tomas van der Spiegel, CEO of Flanders Classics (organizers of the Tour des Flandres) said.

“The resources are invested in a very targeted manner to achieve a more professional women’s cycling. That is why, from this year on, we are also focusing on the organization of races in the youth categories, so that the base is broadened. You notice that the interest is increasing. Last year there were nine teams at the highest level, this season already 14." van der Spiegel added, on an interview with De Tijd.

Over the last few years a lot of discussion and debate has been created over the discrepancies between the men's and women's peloton, financially more than anything. Whilst the main aspects to focus on also revolve around the much needed TV coverage and other ways of making the sport more attractive to sponsorships and investment, equal financial compensation is a big step to take and it should bolster the stability within the peloton.

The head of Flanders Classics went on to complete: “We still face a lot of obstacles. No money has yet been paid for the TV rights of women’s races. We are also still too dependent on the men’s race that is run on the same day for income from sponsorship and VIP packages. We have to arrive at a product that can stand on its own as much as possible.

“We believe in that commercial potential. If you see where the sport was ten years ago, we have made huge strides. It is important to continue this growth with a new multi-year plan," van der Spiegel completed with.

In 2023, their goal is to have all of the Flanders Classics' races having equal prize money for both races, which include Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Gent-Wevelgem, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Tour des Flandres, Scheldeprijs and De Brabantse Pijl.