I wish I were cashing in. Don\’t we all?

I know, I know. This isn\’t a financial advice site. I\’m not qualified to dish out advice about money, except this: If you don\’t NEED to spend it, DON\’T spend it. Even then I\’m none to good about following that bit of wisdom.

What\’s money got to do with cycling, anyhow, you say? We know there are pro riders out there. How do they handle their finances?

How much does a pro cyclist earn, anyhow? From what I\’ve read here and there, it depends on the team\’s budget; the rider\’s ranking both in the cycling world in general and within his/her team; whether the rider is a domestique or a contender; and so on.

Some of the highest-ranked pro riders earn big money. It looks as though even a \”newbie\” can earn more in a year than I do at my job. Sounds pretty good, doesn\’t it?

But openings on pro cycling teams are few; and how many cyclists are there on this planet? Millions? BILLIONS? And look how many make it to Tour de France. Fewer than 200 each year.

A career as a pro cyclist is usually comparatively short. A rider might turn pro by the late teens/early twenties, and leave the pro peloton by about age 43; or perhaps sooner. There\’s always the risk of a career-ending crash; and a team might go out of existence on short notice.

Therefore I\’d guess that pro cyclists must save for the future like the rest of us. They\’ll need have something to live on after cashing in their chips, and retiring from the pro circuit.