Question: How Much Prize Money did Riders Win in the 2005 Tour de France?
Lance Armstrong, wearing the 83rd yellow jersey of his Tour de France career, brought home a lot of money and his seventh Tour de France victory in 2005, a record in the world's toughest bike race. Don't mess with Texas!
Answer: Over $3.5 million. That's a whole lotta prize money. Some of the Tour de France prize money goes to overall Tour de France winners; some is distributed as bonuses. Add potential endorsements for the Tour de France stars and it's a lucrative loop - for example, Sports Illustrated reports that Armstrong's annual endorsement income tops $17.5 million and his Discovery team will split $10 million from their television channel sponsor in return for Discovery TV appearances in 2005/2006.
Of course, the real rush for Tour de France riders is participation in the pinnacle event of the bicycling world, and the prize money might seem small potatoes for the pain. Nonetheless, the bucks are a bit of a bonus for pummeling one's posterior to pieces over 21 days of killer climbs and grueling work through wind, rain and withering sun.
Tour de France 2005 Prize Money Distribution
2005 Tour de France prize money was awarded in each stage except the team time trial for riders down to 25th place (21 teams participated in the 2005 Tour de France). Each daily jersey winner* was awarded a bonus, as was the most aggressive rider. And primes were available, as well as $1800 per rider for teams finishing the Tour de France with at least seven of the team's nine riders.* Yellow (overall leader), white (best young rider), green and polka dot. Jersey colors reflect long gone Tour de France sponsors - polka dots for a candy company's wrapper, for instance.
Download this document from the official Tour de France website for the 2005 breakdown of all Tour de France prize money and cash distribution.
FINAL INDIVIDUAL GENERAL CLASSIFICATION (Overall Individual Winners) TOUR DE FRANCE 2005 PRIZE MONEY
Tour de France 2005 Final Best Team Prize Money
Tour de France 2005 Green Jersey (best sprinter) Prize Money
Tour de France 2005 Polka Dot Jersey (King of the Mountains, or best hill climber) Prize Money
Tour de France 2005 White Jersey (best young rider) Prize Money
Sample Tour de France Prize Money 2002
Cyclingnews.com provides this glance at how the prize money stacked up in the Tour de France 2002.Tour de France Prologue Prize Money
Tour de France Road Stage/Individual Time Trial Prize Money
Tour de France Team Time Trial Prize Money
Tour de France Green Jersey Sprint or Polka Dot Jersey Mountain Climb
Tour de France Final Individual Classification Prize Money
Tour de France Final Green and Polka Dot Jersey Classification Prize Money
Tour de France Final White Jersey Classification Prize Money
