The UCI has confirmed that minimum salaries for men's and women's WorldTour teams and men's ProTeams will be frozen at 2025 levels for the 2026 season. The only tier scheduled for a mandated pay increase is the UCI Women's ProTeams, the second division introduced last year.
"No change is foreseen for 2026 in the minimum salaries applicable to UCI Women's WorldTeams, UCI WorldTeams, and UCI ProTeams," the UCI said in email correspondence to Velora. "By contrast, an increase in minimum salaries has been implemented for UCI Women's ProTeams in 2026, with a further increase planned for 2027."
The freeze pauses a pattern of annual 5% increases that had been established under the joint agreement between the riders' union (CPA) and the teams' association (AIGCP) in late 2023.
Under the current regulations, veteran (covering all riders not classed as neo-pro) men's WorldTour riders on employed contracts must earn at least €44,150 gross, with neo-pros on a lower threshold of €35,721. Women's WorldTour minimums sit slightly below, at €38,000 for veterans and €31,768 for neo-pros. Self-employed riders in both divisions face higher minimums, as they must cover social security and insurance costs that teams would otherwise fund.
Read our full explanation of WorldTour minimum salaries for clarification on tiers of salary and the distinction of neo-pro and veteran riders.
CPA president Adam Hansen has previously explained to Velora that the union is prioritising broader structural reforms within the joint agreement, including safety protocols and insurance standards, over immediate base-pay raises for the men's peloton. The CPA had no oversight of the women's minimum salary, however.
Women's ProTeams salary changes
The Women's ProTeam tier, which sits between the Women's WorldTour and the Continental ranks, launched in 2025 with a €20,000 minimum salary for veteran riders. The UCI has now confirmed that figure will rise in 2026, to €22,000, and increasing to €24,000 by 2027.
Self-employed riders at women's ProTeam tier will receive slightly higher minimum salaries on account of fewer employment protections. Women's ProTeam self-employed neo-pro riders will make €30,162 in 2026, while self-employed veteran riders will make €36,080.
The increases would raise pay for riders most pushed in financial terms in the sport. Survey data from The Cyclists' Alliance in 2024 indicated that 55% of women racing below WorldTour level earn less than €10,000 per year, with 27% receiving little to no income at all.
Since 2020, the Women's WorldTour has had a formal minimum wage, with minimum salaries rising under UCI regulations – this is separate to the Joint Agreement in place for the men's WorldTour. The Women's ProTeam structure introduces minimum salaries in the second division as well.
With women's teams typically receiving far less funding than the major men's squads, the freezing of minimum salary – effectively an inflation-linked pay cut for riders – may have met less opposition on account of budgetary pressures on teams.
For men's teams, minimum salaries movements generally represent only a tiny cost increase for a team where only few riders will sit at the minimum. The sport's biggest earners, in contrast, have seen considerable salary growth, with Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) reportedly earning €8 million annually.
Minimum salary regulations are set by the UCI, and by joint agreement with the CPA in the case of the men's peloton, while individual contract values above those minimums are negotiated between riders and teams.
