mzeffex 

That seems funny that they might make 30k/year, but are given x number of 15k bikes. I say x number, because I'm assuming they have more than one identical bike as back up.

patentcad

In the UCI this may be true (last I heard it was 40K Euros, which at the time may have been closer to $70K, so that may be what it is in 2010). In the USA, forget it.

patentcad

Just as I thought, here we are on the biggest cycling Forum on the web, and nobody really has any idea.

That's very odd. You can go get salary info for major sports figures in other big sports rather easily.

At any rate, it's really pathetic, because in my opinion, pro cycling is by far the hardest, most dangerous and most demanding pro sport on the planet, period the end.

mzeffex 

In tennis a ball could hit you in the head causing death.

Same goes for professional frisbee.

wanders

Balls.

I just watched "The Hard Road" for the second time 2 weeks ago. Although it's 2001 dollars, It's still not sh1t.

Watch "Pro""also. these guys are not living the life.

Except Horner. I envy him regardless.

patentcad

The next time somebody tells me cycling isn't so hard, I'll tell them about that Horillo crash in the Giro where the guy rode into the 200' ravine and lived to tell the tale.

That's like getting knocked out of bounds in an NFL game. At 40 mph, without pads, and then over the rail of the GW Bridge.

pdedes

most pro teams keep ownership of the bikes and sell them off at the end of the year. the bulk of the riders don't get to keep the bikes they race. some top amateur teams give their riders a bike which usually winds up getting sold after the season.

wanders

Fu** the money aspect. Rarely do your hear about the toll it takes on family. Where else can you spend X amount of hours a week to be mediocre at something.

"My spouse is a professional cyclist. They make no money and they're never home." Save 10 in the USA.

patentcad

Talk radio.

MacCruiskeen

I have had to work, in a professional capacity, on the books of a number of members of the punditocracy. And I have to say, it actually takes a fair amount of work to be so consistently idiotic.

spry

Those zealot weenies in the racing forum would live in a carboard box and eat rotten truffles for the oportunity to come in last place at the tour.
They interpret that buzzing in their head as a call from destiny

Diegomayra

Bikeforums.net is Pcad's fulltime career. Mediocrity at its best.

Pilsley

Close,

Boxing beats pretty much anything. Cycling (road specifically) is close.

oilman_15106

Add US pro soccer to your list.

wanders

this pretty much covers every Cat 1 in the USA. Hell, sign me up.

lazerzxr

I think you are wrong. Do you have any idea how much effort it is for a football player to put his hair gel in perfectly every day - even on his rest days. They have a real hard life making sure they are attractive to 12 year old girls all the time......bunch of tarts

spry

Done deal,send in your "hardin"racer number.
I would mention the sponsor corps.you'll ride for is "Depends"+GMC Denali Bikes in 2011 and you'll be expected to do TV promo's.

"load as you go with Denali"

Gluteus

I know, but if I tell you I would have to kill you.

gnome

if that's what it takes. sign me up. Heck I guess a lot of domestic and lower tier pros would do the same.

patentcad

The pay sucks too.

sqharaway

Sure, their salaries may be 70k a year, but they get paid pretty well depending on how well the team does. For example, winning any sprint point in the 2010 Tour de France was around 8000 Euro (and I think this is generally split up amongst the riders on the teams)... Let only a stage win... And what about winning a spring classic? If you're really concerned about their salaries, don't worry, they're doing just fine.

Gluteus

I vaguely remember a thread about a Rock Racing team member who felt during a race and lost some teeth. Somebody was trying to help collecting money to help with dental implants. It seems that the benefits (and I assume the salary) for "continental teams" are not good.

RecceDG

Pro auto racing has the "danger" aspect beaten.

The higher echelons are very physically demanding and require the drivers to be in similar shape, but I agree that nothing is as physically punishing as a Grand Tour.

You'd be surprised to learn how many Pro drivers are actually renting their rides. The ranks of the real salaried drivers are very, very thin.

How do you make a small fortune in auto racing? Start with a big one.

DG

wheelgrabber

Keep in mind there is no true income source for the rec sports(cycling, croquet, sailing). No tickets to purchase. Little to no memorabilia. No real TV rights except for the grand tours that get poor coverage. Hence no advertising money.

Lance probably gets $1-$10 million to ride plus $10 million plus in sponsorship advertising fees.

The GC winner of the Tour gets 450,000 Euros($585,000 USD)

The mens winner of the French Open gets 5,792,000 Euros($7,535,00 USD)

I always wondered how the government justified sponsoring US Postal.

JPH3

Thats funny because I just attended a MotoGP race (motorcycle racing equivalent of Formula 1, for you NASCAR fans) this weekend and it looked a lot more dangerous than pro cycling.

What do you think?



*Full Disclosure* These are not my Pics, Nor are my balls large enough to do this.