Thymen Arensman earns over €100.000 in prize money at post-Tour de France criteriums

Thymen Arensman was more than an okay cyclist already before the Tour de France. However not overly interesting to post-Tour criterium organizers who aim only for the biggest stars and in particular - stage winners. Prior to the 2025 edition, Arensman didn't really tick off neither of those boxes and so the organizers could "buy" the Dutchman for their event a bit less than €6.000, Brabant regional newspaper reports.

Even during first rest day, nobody still had any idea that Arensman was about to write a big story - despite good signals in stage 10 when he crossed the line in a second place. But after stage victories at Suberbagneres and La Plagne, the demand for the INEOS Grenadiers suddenly sky-rocketed.

The price tag has nearly quadrupled up to €23.000 and suddenly all the criteriums were eager to have Arensman at the line. The Gouden Pijl in Emmen even offered a helicopter ride for Arensman and his family. At the end of the day, the Dutchman declines, as he doesn't want to interrupt his family weekend in Limburg for it.

But he did take the bait for the criteriums in Surhuisterveen, Boxmeer, Heerlen, and the famous Draai van de Kaai in Roosendaal. That means four times €23.000 right onto his bank account. Just under a hundred thousand euros in starting money for Arensman. And then you have to take account simultaneous festivities taking place for which Arensman is of course rewarded too.

With the bonuses he earns in the races themselves, he'll reach roughly that amount. All that for a week of relaxed riding around a city, waving at fans and a few some autographs.

Since then, Arensman is already back home, in Andorra. While training for next races, Arensman certainly won't mind the extra week of Tour de France party. Those two stage wins will last a lifetime, but that extra €100,000 is still nice...