The top 10 highest-paid cyclists in 2026 - How much Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Wout van Aert and others earn
CyclingThursday, 10 September 2026 at 09:26
Professional cycling has changed radically in recent years, and the salaries of its biggest riders are clear proof. The top riders in the WorldTour now command figures that not long ago seemed reserved for other sports, with Tadej Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel, and Jonas Vingegaard clearly ahead of the rest in terms of pay.
In 2026, the Slovenian is once again the highest-paid cyclist in the world with an estimated annual figure between 8 and 8.4 million euros.
But the ranking also throws up some striking cases. Among the ten riders with the highest salaries are cyclists who remain true references in the peloton, although not all are delivering performances that easily justify the amounts they earn.
It is especially evident with some names such as Carlos Rodríguez, Egan Bernal, or Adam Yates. Below, the Top 10 with the money each earns according to figures provided by Cycling Today.
10. Carlos Rodríguez - 2.5 million euros
Carlos Rodríguez appears in tenth place with an estimated salary of 2.5 million euros per year at Netcompany INEOS. The figure reflects the huge expectation the Spanish rider generated from his early professional seasons, but his recent form makes it increasingly difficult to justify a number at this level.
The major issue has been recurring form troubles, which have stalled a progression that seemed set to make him one of the leading names in world cycling. Since 2023, when he began to show he could compete with the best in the Grand Tours, his development has not been as linear as expected.
Rodríguez still has quality and room to grow, but 2.5 million euros a year is the salary of a rider established among the elite, and he still needs to prove he can regularly reach that level again.
Carlos Rodríguez, corredor de Netcompany INEOS.
9. Egan Bernal - 2.5 million euros
Egan Bernal also comes in at 2.5 million euros. His situation differs from Rodríguez’s because the Colombian has already shown comprehensively in the past that he could be one of the best cyclists in the world.
Bernal won the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia and became one of the peloton’s major references. His career, however, changed radically after his very serious accident, and since then his performances have not returned to those heights.
He remains an important rider for Netcompany INEOS and retains huge value within the team, but his current salary seems to reflect to a large extent what Bernal was in the past rather than what he represents as a rider today.
8. Adam Yates - 2.7 million euros
Adam Yates earns around 2.7 million euros annually, placing him above Rodríguez and Bernal. The Briton remains a rider of great quality and one of the most important domestiques in the peloton, but his role has changed considerably since he joined UAE.
He is no longer primarily a leader targeting a Grand Tour, but a rider capable of working for the team’s superstars and making differences at decisive moments.
At UAE, that role has huge value. However, the comparison is inevitable when you see that Isaac del Toro is currently taking on a leadership role alongside Tadej Pogacar, while Yates has evolved towards a profile much more oriented to team duties.
Tom Pidcock
7. Tom Pidcock - 2.7 million euros
Tom Pidcock matches Adam Yates on 2.7 million euros. The Briton is one of the most versatile riders in the peloton, and his value does not depend exclusively on Grand Tours. His ability to shine in the mountains, in the classics, and across multiple race types explains why he sits among the best-paid riders.
His salary also reflects the commercial and sporting potential of a cyclist with such a distinctive personality and profile.
6. Primoz Roglic - 4 million euros
Primoz Roglic steps into a higher pay bracket. The Slovenian earns approximately 4 million euros a year, a figure in line with the trajectory of one of the great riders of his generation.
Roglic has won Grand Tours, taken victories in the most important races on the calendar, and for years has been one of the primary rivals of the world’s best riders.
Although his career is in a different phase than a few years ago, he still holds huge value as a leader and as a contender for Grand Tours, as he is showing at the Vuelta a España 2026.
Primoz Roglic en la Vuelta a España 2026.
5. Wout van Aert - 4 million euros
Wout van Aert also sits at 4 million euros per year. The Belgian is one of the most complete and recognizable riders in the world. His ability to compete in Classics, time trials, sprints, mountain stages, and Grand Tours makes his salary an investment linked not only to wins, but to the sheer number of races where he can be decisive.
His versatility is precisely one of the main reasons he belongs in this group. This year he won Paris-Roubaix and is dominating the Vuelta a España. The Belgian remains at the top of the sport, justifying every euro paid by Visma - Lease a Bike.
4. Mathieu van der Poel - 4 million euros
Mathieu van der Poel comes in at another 4 million euros. The Dutchman is one of the biggest stars in world cycling and a leading figure in the Classics. In 2026 he has not managed to win a Monument, but he has always been in the mix, and at the Tour de France he was one of the standout performers, especially with his victory on the final stage in Paris.
Van der Poel is also one of the sport’s biggest media draws, a factor that helps explain the figures commanded by the top stars.
3. Jonas Vingegaard - between 4.5 and 5 million euros
Jonas Vingegaard takes third place with an estimated salary between 4.5 and 5 million euros per year.
The Dane has become one of the great Grand Tour dominators, and his market value is directly tied to his status as the undisputed leader of Visma - Lease a Bike. This year he completed the triple crown by winning the Giro d’Italia, the only Grand Tour missing from his palmarès. Bad luck meant he could not finish the Tour de France, where a crash cost him 2nd place and left him injured.
His duels with Pogacar have turned them into the two benchmark stage racers of recent years, although in salary terms the Slovenian remains clearly ahead.
2. Remco Evenepoel - 6.6 million euros
Remco Evenepoel is the second highest-paid rider in the world with an estimated salary of 6.6 million euros a year.
The Belgian brings virtually everything top teams want: the ability to win Grand Tours, world titles, time trials, Classics, and a huge international profile.
At Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe they know they have the rider who can dominate the sport in the medium to long term. This year he was 2nd at the Tour de France and has won multiple races. At the Grande Boucle he took two stages, and he also claimed the Amstel Gold Race and the Clásica de San Sebastián. He now targets the Worlds and Il Lombardia as his big end-of-season goals.
1. Tadej Pogacar - between 8 and 8.4 million euros
At the top, once again, is Tadej Pogacar, with an estimated salary between 8 and 8.4 million euros per year. The Slovenian sits clearly above the rest of the peloton, and his pay reflects the status he has reached. Pogacar can win Grand Tours, Monuments, Classics, and almost any race he enters.
The gap to the rest is significant. Even compared to Evenepoel in second, Pogacar’s salary is roughly 1.4–1.8 million euros higher.
This year he could not complete the triple crown. A crash on stage 8 of the Vuelta a España forced him to abandon, and he will not race again in 2026, missing the Worlds, the European Championships in Slovenia, and Il Lombardia. Even so, he keeps justifying every euro. He is the best in history and this summer tied the record for Tour de France wins.
The 10 highest-paid cyclists in 2026
| Position | Rider | Team | Estimated 2026 salary |
| 1 | Tadej Pogacar | UAE Team Emirates XRG | 8–8.4 M€ |
| 2 | Remco Evenepoel | Soudal Quick-Step | 6.6 M€ |
| 3 | Jonas Vingegaard | Visma | Lease a Bike | 4.5–5 M€ |
| 4 | Mathieu van der Poel | Alpecin-Premier Tech | 4 M€ |
| 5 | Wout van Aert | Visma | Lease a Bike | 4 M€ |
| 6 | Primoz Roglic | Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe | 4 M€ |
| 7 | Tom Pidcock | Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team | 2.7 M€ |
| 8 | Adam Yates | UAE Team Emirates XRG | 2.7 M€ |
| 9 | Egan Bernal | Netcompany INEOS Grenadiers | 2.5 M€ |
| 10 | Carlos Rodríguez | Netcompany INEOS Grenadiers | 2.5 M€ |
Jorge BorregueroWriter
Jorge Borreguero is a journalist with a degree from the Complutense University of Madrid and has been a writer for Cyclinguptodate and Ciclismoaldia since early 2023. In this role, he has played a key part in the evolution of the website, particularly as a specialist covering Movistar Team. He regularly writes race reports, analytical pieces, and in-depth features about the team, and has conducted exclusive interviews and attended multiple team presentations, providing readers with firsthand insights into one of the leading professional cycling squads.
Throughout his career, Jorge has maintained a strong focus on sports journalism, gaining experience across a variety of disciplines, including basketball and football. However, his current work is almost entirely dedicated to cycling, contributing extensively to Ciclismoaldia and its sister website Cyclinguptodate. For these platforms, he combines thorough research with detailed reporting to deliver high-quality content, ranging from race previews and results to expert analysis of teams and riders.
Jorge’s reporting is marked by accuracy, depth, and a commitment to providing readers with reliable and authoritative information. His direct engagement with teams, athletes, and events ensures that his coverage reflects firsthand knowledge and professional insight. Through his work, he has established himself as a trusted voice in professional cycling journalism, bridging the gap between the sport and its global audience while maintaining rigorous editorial standards.
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