Tadej Pogačar, the Slovenian cycling prodigy and two-time Tour de France winner, has long been recognized as one of the sport’s most dominant forces. However, his financial earnings, despite his immense success and star power, have often been seen as surprisingly modest. Tejay van Garderen, a former American professional cyclist, recently weighed in on this, suggesting that Pogačar, despite his unparalleled achievements and marketability, is “massively underpaid.”
Van Garderen’s comment comes in the wake of Pogačar’s new contract with UAE Team Emirates, reportedly one of the most lucrative in the sport’s history. While the details of the deal remain largely confidential, it’s widely believed that the Slovenian star’s new terms reflect both his extraordinary talent and the global interest in his performances. Pogačar, who has dominated not just the Tour de France but also other prestigious races like the Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the UAE Tour, is widely regarded as one of the best riders of his generation.
Yet, until recently, Pogačar’s pay was considered modest in comparison to his accomplishments. This discrepancy can be attributed to several factors, including the structure of contracts in professional cycling, which often sees teams sign riders to long-term deals with performance-based bonuses, rather than fixed high salaries. Pogačar’s previous deal was seen as relatively low-key for someone of his caliber, especially when compared to other sports stars commanding millions in sponsorships, prize money, and endorsements.
Van Garderen, himself a veteran of the WorldTour, emphasized that a rider of Pogačar’s stature, who brings enormous visibility and excitement to the sport, should be compensated accordingly. “He’s massively underpaid,” van Garderen said, reflecting the growing sentiment within the cycling world that top riders like Pogačar deserve financial recognition on par with their global influence.
With Pogačar’s new contract, it appears the sport is starting to catch up with his value, and this could set a new precedent for how elite cyclists are compensated in the future.
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