Bunch sprints, summit finishes and a GC battle already simmering – the Vuelta a España has been delivering excitement in spades this season. But alongside the drama on the road comes the question of what the riders are actually racing for in financial terms. Grand Tours remain the richest races in cycling, yet the disparity between them is striking and tells us much about the history and stature of each event.
The hierarchy of prize funds
The Tour de France is the undisputed king of the cycling calendar. Established in 1903, it has grown into a cultural giant that extends far beyond the sport itself. Its scale is reflected in the prize pot, with a total of €2.3 million (£1.95m / $2.67m) on offer in 2025. Of that, the overall winner receives a staggering €500,000 (£423K / $580K). This sum alone dwarfs the entire prize purse of many other races on the calendar.
The Giro d’Italia, inaugurated in 1909, has always had prestige, with Italian passion and history elevating it as “La bella corsa”. Its prize money reflects that middle ground between the Tour and the Vuelta. In 2025, the Giro’s total pool stood at €1.6 million (£1.37m / $1.86m), with Simon Yates claiming €265,668 (£229K / $308K) for overall victory. While well short of Tour levels, it still represents a significant financial incentive.
The Vuelta a España, first held in 1935, has always been the youngest sibling of the Grand Tours. Over the decades, its calendar slot shifted repeatedly in a bid to attract stronger fields, moving from April to late summer. Today, it consistently attracts star names and decisive GC battles, but its prize fund remains more modest. The total purse in 2025 is €1,115,775 (£962K / $1.29m), with the overall winner receiving €150,000 (£129K / $174K).
| Race | Total prize pot | Winner’s prize (GC) | Stage win prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tour de France | €2.3m | €500,000 | €11,000 |
| Giro d’Italia | €1.6m | €265,668 | €11,010 |
| Vuelta a España | €1.115m | €150,000 | €11,000 |
The figures underline the Vuelta’s status: a major event, but still financially in the shadow of its older siblings.
Stage wins and classifications
One intriguing point is that stage wins are rewarded equally across the three Grand Tours. Each stage victory at the Tour, Giro or Vuelta brings in €11,000 (£9,480 / $12,750). The Giro technically edges ahead with an additional €10, but in real terms the difference is negligible.
The bulk of the Vuelta’s pot comes from stage results and the general classification. Stage results account for €606,060 of the total, while the GC distributes €337,285. Other areas – such as the points classification, mountains competition, youth standings, and team classifications – add smaller but still significant sums.
| Classification | Vuelta 2025 prize pot |
|---|---|
| General classification | €337,285 |
| Stage classification | €606,060 |
| Points classification | €18,000 |
| Mountains classification | €23,100 |
| Youth classification | €18,000 |
| Daily jersey leader income | €16,170 |
| Intermediate sprints | €15,675 |
| Mountain climbs | €21,365 |
| Cima Alberto Fernández | €1,520 |
| Team classification | €37,300 |
| Stage team classification | €14,700 |
| Combativity awards | €6,600 |
| Total | €1,115,775 |
The general classification winner earns €150,000, with 2nd and 3rd taking €57,985 and €30,000 respectively. Riders finishing 4th through 9th collect between €15,000 and €6,000, and even those placing 10th to 20th receive €3,800 each. It means the GC pot extends rewards deep into the top 20 overall finishers.
Stage victories, meanwhile, pay €11,000 to the winner, with descending amounts to 20th place. Second on a stage is worth €5,500, third €2,700, while riders from 10th through 20th each receive €360.
Secondary competitions contribute additional rewards. The points classification winner secures €11,000, the mountains champion €13,000, and the youth winner €11,000. While modest in comparison to GC, these prizes still matter for sprinters, climbers and rising talents. The combativity prize offers €200 daily, with €3,000 for the overall most combative rider crowned in Madrid.
Photo Credit: GettyWomen’s Grand Tours
The men’s prize structure looks generous by comparison with women’s cycling, where disparities remain stark. The Vuelta Femenina’s total prize pool is €131,000 (£113K / $151K), while both the Tour de France Femmes and the Giro d’Italia Women distribute €250,000 (£215K / $290K).
For the overall winners, Elisa Longo Borghini (Giro) and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Tour) both earned €50,000 (£43K / $58K). Demi Vollering, who won the Vuelta Femenina, received €35,000 (£30K / $40K).
| Race | Total prize pot | Winner’s prize (GC) |
|---|---|---|
| Tour de France Femmes | €250,000 | €50,000 |
| Giro d’Italia Women | €250,000 | €50,000 |
| Vuelta Femenina | €131,000 | €35,000 |
These figures highlight how even the Vuelta a España’s modest men’s prize pool far exceeds the financial rewards on offer to the top women’s riders.
Shared rewards
It is also important to note that riders rarely keep prize money for themselves. Professional cycling is a team sport, and winnings are typically pooled and shared among all team members, including domestiques and support staff. The climbers who set tempo on summit finishes, the lead-out men who position their sprinters, and even soigneurs who keep riders fed and recovered all expect recognition. At the end of a Grand Tour, squads will tally their prize pot and distribute it – ensuring that success is shared across the collective rather than remaining in the pocket of a single star.
The comparison of prize money between the Tour, Giro and Vuelta reflects more than just financial clout. It mirrors each race’s place in cycling history, its global reach, and its ability to attract sponsors and audiences. While the Vuelta remains third in this ranking, its continued ability to attract big-name winners – and offer thrilling racing – ensures that prestige counts for more than money alone.
