Tour de France prize money: Staggering amount yellow jersey winner will be awarded

The 2025 Tour de France is in full swing, delivering another thrilling chapter in cycling's most prestigious race. Kicking off in Lille, the 112th edition of the Tour has seen Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar dominate, but the likes of Mathieu van der Poel and Ben Healy are also impressing.

The race, spanning 21 stages and covering diverse terrains from flat sprints to gruelling mountain ascents like Mont Ventoux, captivates millions worldwide. This year, competitors have had to traverse a 3,320km route to work towards the finish line on the Champs-Élysées in Paris on Sunday.

As Pogacar eyes a fourth title, the financial rewards for his efforts are equally staggering, with a hefty prize pot awaiting the champions.

The total prize fund for the 2025 Tour de France stands at £2million (€2.3m), offering substantial rewards for riders across various categories. The winner of the general classification, donning the coveted yellow jersey at the finish line, will pocket £434,000 (€500,000), making it the most lucrative prize in the sport.

This sum represents 20 per cent of the total prize pool, with the runner-up earning £173,000 (€200,000) and third place taking £87,000 (€100,000). Every finisher in the Tour receives at least £867 (€1,000) for their gruelling efforts.

Stage victories also come with payouts. Each stage win nets £9,540 (€11,000), while second and third places earn £4,770 (€5,500) and £2,428 (€2,800) respectively.

Defending champion Pogacar has benefitted from that more than most with several wins contributing to a total which is comfortably in the tens of thousands and nearing six figures.

Special classifications, like the points (green jersey) and King of the Mountains (polka-dot jersey), offer £21,683 (€25,000) for their winners, with daily bonuses for jersey holders adding to the earnings. For instance, leading the general classification for a day earns £434 (€500).

That's another small bonus for riders like Pogacar or Healy, who briefly held yellow earlier in the event. Team efforts are also rewarded, with the fastest team in the overall classification securing £43,367 (€50,000).

That's typically split among riders and staff. Additional awards, such as the Souvenir Henri Desgrange for the first rider over the race's highest point, bring £4,337 (€5,000), a prize Pogacar claimed this year.

Beyond the headline prizes, the Tour's financial structure reflects its commitment to rewarding diverse achievements. Young riders under 26 compete for the white jersey, with its winner earning £17,346 (€20,000), incentivising the next generation of cycling talent.

Daily prizes for intermediate sprints (£1,300/€1,500 for the winner) and smaller mountain passes add further opportunities for riders to boost their earnings, even if they're not in contention for the overall title.

These incremental rewards ensure that domestiques and breakaway specialists, who sacrifice personal glory for team strategy or stage spectacle, also share in the financial spoils.