Rotten Bastard

Do pro teams generally spend the entire budget allotted to them by their sponsors by the end of each calendar year? If not, do they just hold onto any leftover and use it for the following season? And would a team do this if the sponsors switched during the offseason?

The way I understand it is the sponsor writes a check to the team and leaves the management of it to the DS, but do they write a single check or stagger it throughout the season? Don't ask me why I ask.. just one of those little things I always wondered about.

Cheers

CrimsonKarter21

Because most sponsorship stuff is handled by November-December of the previous year, I think the sponsor money if figured there. The team gets the money at the beginning of the year and spends it throughout. Unless the team has worked in a performance bonus type-deal, I think that's how it works. Either that or half and half.

On the other hand, the whole Astana thing this year shows that some do it staggered.

Fat Boy

On Bahati's recent interview, he quoted the number of $800k. Seems very low to me for an entire team, but it's a number none the less. I can see $800k going to travel costs alone for a team riding in the US, but that seems to be their entire budget.

crocodilefundy

he clearly said that that would not be enough for flying or any other luxury. so that would be what it takes to run a bare bones team in the USA.

jtfind

Here are some Euro team budgets from '07 (most around $10M, Astana $16M) :
https://www.bicycle.net/2007/tour-de-...r-rank-profile