Le Money of Le Tour ???

[Bike4ale]

A co-worker has been asking me how much money is at stake for the Tour de France. I've searched the web and can't find it anywhere. I think somewhere I found it in Euros, but I don't have my slide rule to translate to U.S. Dollars.

Does anyone know the breakdown for tour winner, winning team, 2nd, 3rd place, etc.?

[bill a]

Here you go beer dude,

There is 3 million euros (US$2.92 million) available in total for prize money. The winner of the race receives 400,000 euros (US$389,800). The remainder is given to the other players. How much the last player receives would really depends on the total number of cyclists since the the 2.6 million euros are split among the remaining cyclists.

This year there will be 198 cyclists, which means 2.6 million euros will be divided among 197 cyclists.


Bill

[Bike4ale]

Thanks Bill. I knew someone here would know it. Thanks for breaking it down for me. Enjoy the tour!

[Bike4ale]

OK...so now the same guy at work is trying to compare, for example, Lance's annual income to a pro football or baseball player (idiot). This same guy is convinced that Lance is on illegal drugs, but has no logical reasoning behind this. He's also critisizing Lance for leaving his wife....saying he's a JERK. Of course, this is all coming from a guy who has no respect for his own wife and is headed for his second divorce.

All that being said, any idea what Lance earned last year with prize money, sponsorships & endorsements? Also, what would the average pro cyclist earn in a year?

[Bike4ale]

OK, to answer myself....

Last year Lance made $460,000 in prize money and $17 million in commercial deals.

In other words, if you're not the best in the world....don't quit your day job!

[Legspeed]

Ummm, bill, where are you buying your euros? I'd like to know because the current exchange rate is 1.21USD for 1.00EUR.

Oops, make that 1.23USD per 1.00EUR as of today's market.
That makes 3,000,000EUR = 3,693,785USD

[Legspeed]

From Cyclingnews, for the 2001 Tour (http://www.cyclingnews.com/results/2001/tour01/news/jul04news.shtml)

Current exchange rate: 5.4 French Francs (FF) = 1 USD
1.21 USD = 1.00 Euro
(Side note: in 2001, the exchange rate was 7.6FF = 1.14 Euro = 1USD)

Total Payout for 2001 was ~ FF16 million

Each team receives FF150,000 just for showing up.

Individual stage wins: FF50,000, paying down to 30th place (FF500). The prologue only counts for half prize money, but the team time trial is worth FF100,000 for the winning team.

General Classification
==============
Winner FF2.2 million
2nd FF1.1 million
3rd FF600,000
gradually paying out to FF2,500 for 150th place

Every day spent in the yellow jersey is worth FF2,000.

Sprint Competition
============
Winner of the sprint competition receives FF150,000,
gradually paying down to FF6,000 for 10th place.

The daily wearer of the green jersey gets FF2000.

Each of the 42 intermediate sprints are worth FF5000, 3000 and 2000
(1st, 2nd, & 3rd place in the sprint)

Mountains competition
===============
Overall winner gets FF150,000
Each day in the polka-dot jersey is worth FF2,000
Each Hors categorie climb worth FF5,000, 3,000 and 2,000
(1st, 2nd, & 3rd over the top)
4th categorie climbs worth FF1,000

Espoir Competition
============
Best young rider overall get FF120,000
Best young rider each day gets FF3,000
FF2,000 for each day wearing the white jersey

Team Classification
=============
Overall winning team receives FF200,000. 160,000 for 2nd
12,000 for 3rd, 80,000 for 4th, and 40,000 for 5th.

Best team each day (except for the team time trial) is worth FF18,000

Most aggressive
==========
Overall winner receives FF100,000
Most aggressive each day: FF10,000

Special primes
==========
Each year, special primes are announced. For example, in 2001, the first and second riders past the Henri Desgrange memorial on the Col de la Madeleine received FF20,000 and 10,000. Total primes in 2001 totaled
FF12.1 million.

Last but not least, the team assistants (mechanics etc.) will receive a bonus of FF10,000 for each rider who finishes in Paris, provided that at least 7 of 9 riders finish.

[bill a]

Legspeed,

Certainly did not intend to mislead or be chastized for the numbers I presented. This is information that I had obtained from an article I had read which obvioulsy was dated. Considering the Euro fluctuates I am not surprised that there is a descripency in numbers from the time the article was written today's exchange rate. And you know something, I do not really care, I was just trying to simply answer the question put out there. I am not the type when asked what time it is to reply with how to build a watch.

Bill

[Rex]

Hey bill! Re-read that post that apparently made you angry, and pretend its intended to be "all in fun." I didn't read it as attacking in any way, myself.

....But, if you want to be reprimanded and corrected on your bad info, there are actually only 188 riders starting the TDF. 21 teams of nine, minus one from Euskatel who didn't pass his blood tests... (which HAS to make you wonder about Iban Mayo, doesn't it???) And possibly a couple more will drop out the morning of the Prologue...

(I wouldn't have known that if I hadn't just read about it today, and no, I don't suspect you really care. I'm trying to be funny. If its not coming off that way, I apoligize....)

[Legspeed]

Bill, you think I really care about your intentions or your 'type'? :wink:

[bill a]

I took it wrong and apologize again

Bill

[cougie]

It's pretty much tradition that the individual prize money that the winner gets is shared out amongst his team. Which is fair enough, as without his team LA certainly wouldn't have won the last 5.

The real money is in endorsements.

But if your friend thinks this is about money - he should think again - 'it's not about the money'.

[spin-up]

correction: it WAS not about the money