Tour de France prize money: How much does the winner make?

Brendan Bradford

Tour de France prize money: How much does the winner make? image

The Tour de France is undoubtedly the biggest and most prestigious cycling race in the world, but the prize money doesn't really stack up. 

The winner of the three week stage race takes home just under (AU) $800,000, while each stage winner earns (AU) $17,541.

The total prize pool for the Tour stands at (AU) $3,649,338 which is far less than other prestigious events in golf and tennis. 

Here's how it all breaks down at the Tour de France. 

TOUR DE FRANCE 2021 PRIZE MONEY: HOW MUCH DOES THE WINNER MAKE?

This year's yellow jersey winner, Tadej Pogacar, is taking home a fairly nice pay day. 

Here's the breakdown for the general classification standings. 

PLACE PRIZE MONEY (Australian dollars)
First $797,338.40
Second $318,935.36
Third $159,467.68
Fourth $111,627.38
Fifth $79,733.84
Sixth $39,866.92
Seventh $18,338.78
Eighth $12,119.54
Ninth $7,176.05
10th $6,059.77
11th $4,784.03
12th $4,305.63
13th $3,986.69
14th $3,348.82
15th $3,189.35
16th $2,392.02
17th $2,073.08
18th $1,913.61
19th $1,754.14
20th-160th $1,594.68

Compare these figures to the prize money on offer at The Open, where the winner will bank $2,796,164.28.

The disparity continues down the leaderboard as well. Where the 20th placed Tour de France rider earns a paltry $1594, the player who finishes 20th at the The Open takes home $162,096.

HOW MUCH MONEY DO TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE WINNERS MAKE? 

Of course, there are other ways for riders to make prize money at the Tour. 

Here's the prize money breakdown for stage placings. 

PLACE PRIZE MONEY (Australian dollars)
First $17,541.44
Second $8,770.72
Third $4,465.10
Fourth $2,392.02
Fifth $1,323.58
Sixth $1,243.85
Seventh $1,164.11
Eighth $1,068.43
Ninth $1,036.54
10th $956.81
11th $861.13
12th $749.50
13th $701.66
14th $542.19
15th $478.40
16th $478.40
17th $478.40
18th $478.40
19th $478.40
20th $478.40

TOUR DE FRANCE PRIZE MONEY - GREEN JERSEY

There's also prize money on offer for the winners and placings of each intermediate sprint and for categorised mountains. 

Here's the breakdown for each intermediate sprint. 

INTERMEDIATE SPRINT PLACE PRIZE MONEY (Australian Dollars) 
First $2,392.02
Second $1,594.68
Third $797.34

The wearer of the sprinters' green jersey earns (AU) $478.40 every day. 

Here's the breakdown for the green jersey prize money at the end of the race. 

SPRINT CLASSIFICATION PRIZE MONEY (Australian dollars)
First $39,866.92
Second  $23,920.15
Third $15,946.77
Fourth $6,378.71
Fifth $5,581.37
Sixth $4,784.03
Seventh $3,986.69
Eighth $3,189.35

TOUR DE FRANCE PRIZE MONEY - POLKA DOT JERSEY 

There's a bit of money on offer for the best climbers of the tour as well. 

For the second year running, Tadej Pogacar will take out the climbers' classification as well as the GC. 

CLIMBERS CLASSIFICATION PRIZE MONEY (Australian dollars)
First $39,866.92
Second  $23,920.15
Third $15,946.77
Fourth $6,378.71
Fifth $5,581.37
Sixth $4,784.03
Seventh $3,986.69
Eighth $3,189.35

 

Brendan Bradford