How much do pro cyclist make?

Answer 1

According to today's Wall Street Journal:

Alejandro Valverde $4 million

Cadel Evans $3.4 million

Frank Schleck $1 million

Slyvain Chavenel $1 million

Christian Vande Velde $500,000 (someone is getting a big raise soon)

Average support rider: $200,000- $300,000 (but as little as $45k)

Pay for top 3 finishing riders of TdF will be about half what Armstrong, Basso and Ulrich made in 2005.

Average budget for top-pro cycling team: $15M - $23M (with 60-80% going to riders)

Garmin-Chipolte budget: $11 million

CSC does not pay rider bonuses for winning a stage or tour. (Others pay $50,000 or up to $1 million for winning the Tour)

TdF pays the winner $700,000 (it is usually split among the team)

(Not much, but cycling tours don't have ticket sales to support payouts.)