As the 2025 Tour de France draws nearer, all eyes are once again fixed on one of the most dominant cyclists of his generation: Tadej Pogacar. The Slovenian phenom, currently a two-time champion, is widely regarded as the favourite to take home the coveted yellow jersey for the third time in his career. Yet, for Pogacar, the Tour is not just about the glory of victory, the prestige of wearing the yellow jersey, or the history books that will record his name. It is also about the prize money — a considerable sum that will be split between himself, his UAE Team Emirates, and his various sponsors.

As Pogacar prepares for the 2025 edition of the Tour, questions are already swirling about just how much he stands to earn if he clinches another title. With significant prize money up for grabs from both the race organisers, ASO (Amaury Sport Organisation), and his own team, the 24-year-old’s financial windfall could be monumental. From stage victories to combativity awards and King of the Mountains points, Pogacar’s haul from the world’s most prestigious cycling event could be a far cry from just the €500,000 winner’s cheque he is set to receive.

The Big Picture: Tour de France Prize Money

While the fame, glory, and historical significance of the Tour de France are often the primary driving forces behind a cyclist’s determination, the prize money is no small matter either. The total prize pool for the 2025 Tour de France is expected to exceed €2.5 million, with different categories of rewards spread across a range of achievements. Race organisers ASO reward cyclists not only for their overall performance but for their efforts across different stages, individual victories, special classifications, and even for demonstrating sporting spirit.

Let’s break it down:

• Overall Winner’s Prize: The winner of the general classification (GC) at the end of the Tour de France walks away with a substantial cash prize. For 2025, this is expected to be around €500,000, with Pogacar being the clear favourite to pocket this sum if he maintains his stellar form.
• Stage Wins: Cyclists who win individual stages of the Tour are rewarded with a bonus. Stage victories in the 2025 Tour de France will fetch around €11,000 for each victory. For a rider like Pogacar, who consistently dominates mountain stages and time trials, these bonuses can quickly add up. If he takes, say, three stages — which would not be an unlikely scenario given his remarkable consistency — that’s an additional €33,000 in his pocket.
• Combativity Award: This prestigious award goes to the rider who shows the most attacking and aggressive riding during the Tour, often resulting in breakaways, daring moves, and bold efforts. While Pogacar’s win streak has often been about his overall superiority, he is equally known for his combative spirit. The winner of the Combativity Award can expect to take home around €20,000, a nice extra for Pogacar if he secures the accolade once more.
• King of the Mountains: One of the most coveted jerseys in the Tour is the polka-dot jersey, awarded to the best climber — or the King of the Mountains. For riders like Pogacar, whose strength in the high-altitude climbs is unparalleled, winning this classification is often as important as taking the overall victory. The King of the Mountains winner’s cheque typically amounts to €25,000, which could easily end up in Pogacar’s hands should he continue to dominate the grueling mountain stages.
• Points Classification (Green Jersey): While Pogacar’s strengths lie predominantly in the mountains, his all-around capabilities have also seen him challenge for the points classification in previous Tours. The rider who finishes with the most points at the end of the race, often through intermediate sprints and stage wins, earns the prestigious green jersey. The prize for this classification typically ranges around €25,000.

Adding it all up, if Pogacar performs at his peak across multiple facets of the race, his total prize money from ASO alone could easily exceed €600,000, even before considering any team bonuses, bonuses for winning stages, or endorsements from sponsors. For a rider of his calibre, this is a serious payday.

Team Bonuses and Sponsorship Earnings

While the ASO-organised prize money is significant, Pogacar’s financial haul from the Tour de France won’t just come from his performance in the race itself. Team bonuses and sponsorship contracts can elevate the total sum considerably.

Team Bonuses

UAE Team Emirates, Pogacar’s current team, is one of the biggest names in cycling. As one of the highest-paying teams in the peloton, it’s no surprise that Pogacar’s contract includes substantial performance-based bonuses. The structure of these bonuses is typically confidential, but the payouts can range from €100,000 to €500,000 or more, depending on his victories, leadership role, and overall success at the Tour.

For example, if Pogacar were to win the overall Tour de France title and take several stage wins, it’s very likely that UAE Team Emirates would provide him with an additional bonus as part of his contract. The team would have also factored in any performance-based incentives tied to winning the King of the Mountains or the Combativity Award.

Given Pogacar’s prominence within the team and his central role in their Tour de France ambitions, it is safe to say that his overall earnings from team bonuses will likely reach several hundred thousand euros. This could easily push his total prize money from the 2025 Tour past €1 million, depending on his results.

Sponsor Earnings

Beyond the direct prize money and team bonuses, Pogacar’s earnings are heavily bolstered by his lucrative sponsorship deals. As one of the most marketable cyclists in the sport, Pogacar has partnerships with a range of high-profile brands. These sponsorship deals are separate from the Tour’s official prize money and can earn him significant sums through advertising, endorsements, and brand ambassador roles.

Some of Pogacar’s key sponsors include cycling giants such as UAE Team Emirates, Canyon, Poc Sports, and Omega. He also benefits from partnerships with multinational brands like McDonald’s and Tag Heuer. These sponsors pay Pogacar handsome sums for promotional activities, media appearances, and product placements during the Tour. While the exact amounts of these deals are often undisclosed, it’s well known that top cyclists in the professional ranks can earn several million euros annually from sponsorship alone.

Pogacar’s image, particularly in the digital age where social media plays a massive role, adds to his ability to secure top-tier endorsement deals. His presence at the Tour de France — one of the most-watched sporting events globally — means that the sponsors who back him gain global exposure, and this can translate into millions in potential revenue for these brands.

For Pogacar, his lucrative contracts with sponsors can easily result in earnings exceeding €5 million annually, with the Tour de France serving as a major payday in this overall financial picture.

The Bigger Picture: What Does This Mean for Pogacar’s Career?

While the financial aspect of the Tour de France is undoubtedly important, it is ultimately the race’s sporting significance that drives Pogacar. His incredible consistency, racing intelligence, and sheer power on the bike have made him one of the best riders of his generation, and securing another win in 2025 would solidify his position as a future all-time great in the sport.

That said, it is clear that the economic rewards from the Tour, combined with team bonuses and endorsements, offer Pogacar an immense financial windfall. If he continues to dominate cycling for years to come, these earnings will only increase, allowing him to further solidify his financial future alongside his sporting legacy.

Ultimately, Pogacar’s earnings from the 2025 Tour de France will serve as a testament to not just his incredible skill and determination but also his marketability and ability to capitalize on the commercial side of the sport. With his sights set on another victory in the Tour, one can only imagine the significant sums he will rake in for himself, his sponsors, and his team. As the cycling world watches, Tadej Pogacar is poised to continue his meteoric rise, both on and off the bike.