Cycling teams often keep their actual budget figures under wraps, making it challenging to ascertain precise financial details. While Richard Plugge from Jumbo-Visma recently hinted that they might rank around 5th or 6th in terms of budgets this season, such statements are usually shrouded in ambiguity. Determining exact budget figures is a bit like navigating through a maze of smoke and mirrors, and any estimates we provide come with a margin of error. We’ve seen reports that the new Decathlon sponsorship of AG2R La Mondiale has increased their budget by a little bit already for 2024.
The UCI informs teams about their percentile ranking when it comes to disclosing budget information, giving team managers a rough idea of where they stand compared to their counterparts. However, this information remains closely guarded, resembling a well-kept secret within the cycling fraternity.
A cycling team’s budget encompasses various expenditures related to its day-to-day operations. These include:
Salaries for Riders and Staff: A substantial chunk of a team’s budget is typically earmarked for compensating riders and support staff. This not only covers the riders themselves but also extends to coaches, trainers, mechanics, and other essential personnel.
Travel and Accommodations: Professional cycling outfits embark on extensive journeys during the racing season, incurring significant expenses. Teams are responsible for footing the bill for airfare, hotels, and other travel-related costs for both riders and staff.
Equipment and Gear: To stay competitive, cycling teams must invest in top-quality bikes, helmets, apparel, and other equipment for their riders. Acquiring premium gear can be a substantial financial commitment.
Race Fees and Incidental Costs: Participation in races entails covering entry fees and various incidentals such as food and transportation expenses. These costs are an integral part of a team’s budget planning.
Marketing and Advertising: Many cycling teams enjoy sponsorships from companies seeking to promote their products or services through team associations. Consequently, teams may allocate a portion of their budget towards marketing and advertising initiatives to showcase their sponsors effectively.
Miscellaneous Expenses: Beyond the major categories, there are numerous miscellaneous expenses that can accumulate swiftly. These include expenses related to team uniforms, medical needs, and insurance coverage.
It’s important to note that the budgets of WorldTour cycling teams can exhibit significant disparities, influenced by factors such as team size, sponsorship deals, and their performance in the professional cycling arena. The intricacies of these financial aspects remain veiled in secrecy, leaving fans and pundits to make educated guesses about the financial muscle behind their favourite teams.
2024 WorldTour team budgets ranking
- UAE Team Emirates: Estimated budget of €55 million to €60 million.
- Ineos Grenadiers: Estimated budget of €50 million to €55 million.
- Jumbo-Visma: Estimated budget of €50 million to €55 million.
- Lidl-Trek: Estimated budget of €30 million to €35 million.
- Soudal-QuickStep: Estimated budget of €25 million to €30 million.
- Bahrain Victorious: Estimated budget of €25 million to €30 million.
- Bora-Hansgrohe: Estimated budget of €25 million to €30 million.
- AG2R Citroën Team: Estimated budget of €25 million to €30 million.
- Movistar Team: Estimated budget of €20 million to €25 million.
- Groupama-FDJ: Estimated budget of €20 million to €25 million.
- Alpecin-Deceuninck: Estimated budget of €15 million to €25 million.
- Team dsm-firmenich: Estimated budget of €15 million to €25 million.
- Jayco-AlUla: Estimated budget of €15 million to €25 million.
- Astana Qazaqstan Team: Estimated budget of €18 million to €25 million.
- EF Education-EasyPost: Estimated budget of €18 million to €22 million.
- Cofidis: Estimated budget of €15 million to €20 million.
- Arkéa-Samsic: Estimated budget of €12 million to €20 million.
- Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux: Estimated budget of €12 million to €18 million.
It is important to note that these estimates are not official and can vary from year to year. Additionally, some teams may have additional sources of funding or sponsorships that are not reflected in these budgets.
