Evenepoel and Van Aert lose financial benefits from Belgian federation, UCI may come for UAE and co as well

Indeed, Belgian Cycling has made a financial decision: no more bonuses for Belgian cyclists who win a medal at a tournament. Someone like Evenepoel had to be paid substantially in recent years after all his world and Olympic titles. That went to extremes, according to CEO Nathalie Clauwaert. "Between 2019 and 2023, there was a threefold increase in the number of medals. And therefore also of the number of premiums we had to pay," according to Sporza.

According to Clauwaert, the current premium set-up is no longer feasible for the federation, where financial savings must be made. It's a blow for Belgian athletes who are paid by their teams, but that is not a big sum for everyone. "It is a measure we have agreed internally with the riders and national coaches. We know it is not a popular decision, but we could still count on understanding."

Also, according to Clauwaert, the reduced premiums are due to increasing costs for cycling federations. "I also speak with fellow federations struggling to run their national programs. There are several reasons for this. One is an increase in the cost of hotel stays and flights. Labor costs have also increased, and the sport has been internationalized. Nowadays, we often have to travel much further - just think of the World Championship in Wollongong. That all has its price, of course."

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It's a setback for Belgian medal contenders such as Evenepoel, Van Aert, Tim Merlier, Jasper Philipsen, and so on. However, brainstorming by the International Cycling Federation UCI could have even more significant consequences for them. Escape Collective writes that a so-called salary cap is being considered. PwC researched the possibilities, and, according to them, a kind of "luxury tax" could work for cycling.

This would involve wealthier teams paying "tax" on the salary budget that exceeds the agreed salary cap. For example, a team like UAE Team Emirates might be able to pay one Pogacar but not gather 10 other superstars around him. That money will then flow back through the cycling federation to the smaller teams in the peloton. This will create more balance, although the big question is whether the teams with more money will get their sponsors, in a sponsor-funded sport, to pay money that is only partially intended for the team riding around with their name on their chest.

Richard Plugge, CEO of Visma | Lease a Bike, expressed his doubts in conversation with the same website. "I am not against a cap, although I don't know what limit I prefer. Right now, I mainly feel that cycling has bigger problems than this. That is safety. We received a letter from the UCI a week ago, which didn't say a word about safety or the incident at the World Championship," he said, referring to the death of junior Muriel Furrer after a crash in Zurich. "In my opinion, that's what we should focus on."