This is how much prize money Remco Evenepoel and Demi Vollering could earn if they become world champions in Montreal
CyclingWednesday, 23 September 2026 at 19:30
Follow IDL Pro Cycling on Google
Stay up to date with the best cycling news by making us a preferred source on Google.
Follow us on GoogleWednesday is a “rest day” at the World Cycling Championships in Montreal, Canada. But that doesn’t mean the riders are sitting idle, as it’s the official course recon day for the road races. many of those on track today will be dreaming of winning the rainbow bands. But how much can the riders actually earn for a world title in Montreal?
ADVERTISEMENT
The UCI is offering a total prize pool of €124,250 for the World Championships in Montreal. Unlike, for example, the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia, the cycling union awards equal prize money to men and women. That means that, for instance, if Evenepoel and Vollering were to win their respective world titles, which is somewhat expected, they would receive the same amount of money.
Time trials are also worth the same as road races, which means that—with the Mixed Relay already completed—more than half of the prize pool has already been awarded. At a World Championship, however, only the medalists receive prize money; from fourth place down to last place, there is no direct financial reward.
Read also
What does a World Championship title mean in cycling?
Remco Evenepoel and Marlen Reusser have already received an additional 8,000 euros for their victories at the World Time Trial Championships, which is also the maximum amount available on Saturday and Sunday. The runners-up in both the road race and the time trial will receive 4,000 euros, while the bronze medalists will receive 2,000 euros in Montreal.
In the U23 division, the prize money is halved, so the male and female winners each earn 4,000 euros, the runner-up 2,000 euros, and third place 1,000 euros. For the juniors, the prize money is halved again, with 2,000 euros, 1,000 euros, and 500 euros up for grabs, respectively.
Mixed relay pays big bucks for federations
The federations still have the most money to earn in the Mixed Relay, even though that event is also contested by six participants. Italy won that event on Tuesday and received a total of 15,000 euros for it, while the second- and third-place finishers also received 7,500 euros and 3,750 euros, respectively. A second-place finish in the Mixed Relay therefore yields almost as much as a victory in the individual road race.
That so many nations skip the Mixed Relay, including the USA, GB, Belgium and the Netherlands, proves that financial incentive is not the main driver at the World Championships. But with federations like Australia not filling all of their allotted spaces, USA charging certain riders money to participate, and New Zealand asking all riders to pay their travel fees, the national model has been called into question.
1. Elite Road Race & Time Trial (Men & Women)
The amounts are the same for men and women and apply to both the road race and the time trial:
- 🥇 1st place: €8,000
- 🥈 2nd place: €4,000
- 🥉 3rd place: €2,000
- 4th through last place: €0
2. U23 Road Race & Time Trial (Men & Women)
- 🥇 1st place: €4,000
- 🥈 2nd place: €2,000
- 🥉 3rd place: €1,000
- 4th through last place: €0
3. Junior Road Race & Time Trial (Men & Women)
- 🥇 1st place: €2,000
- 🥈 2nd place: €1,000
- 🥉 3rd place: €500
- 4th through last place: €0
4. Mixed Relay
- 🥇 1st place: €15,000
- 🥈 2nd place: €7,500
- 🥉 3rd place: €3,750
- 4th through last place: €0
Read also
David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
IDL-productions
Australia leave team spots empty, USA riders pay $1,000 to race: the World Championships' national team model faces serious financial problems
Wiggins baffled by U23 Worlds time trial, turns focus to road race support role: ‘The time trial just doesn't lie’
Team USA call up 'frustrated' rider for the World Championship road race after Powless dropped out
An American rider can win the Elite Men’s World Championship road race, but the smart money isn’t on Quinn Simmons!
McNulty fell 12 seconds short of a World TT medal but sees a road race opportunity: 'We have our work cut out'
Latest Cycling News
2026 Elite Men's World Cycling Championships Preview | Evenepoel vs Del Toro vs Seixas vs Pidcock and the rest in Montréal
Pidcock gets a surprise new teammate as Lidl-Trek's buying spree causes key player to leave
Six riders who will challenge Van der Poel, Van Aert, and Pedersen at the World Championship road race
Tadej Pogačar is suddenly on the European Championships start list; UAE Team Emirates gives an explanation
10 years after Nibali's crash, Italy has a 3.5-to-1 chance of pulling off a World Championship road race upset
Popular Cycling News
Netcompany-INEOS think they have found the new Seixas — and the numbers back it up
Remco Evenepoel takes Filippo Ganna's World Championship comments with a grain of salt: 'He says that every time'
2026 World Cycling Championships Route & Schedule | Time trials are done; here are the road race details
Tadej Pogačar is suddenly on the European Championships start list; UAE Team Emirates gives an explanation
After signing the 'new Seixas', INEOS have reportedly secured one of the Giro's quiet revelations for 2027
Latest Comments
- - Finn Fisher-Black calling out CNZ is brave and necessary. If NZL riders are self-funding while officials sleep in 5-star hotels, algo no cuadra, mates. Sort the priorities—put the money into legs, not lanyards.davidm23-09-2026
- - Not buying all of this doom. National colours matter. The Worlds jersey is unique because it’s nation vs nation. Fix the federations’ budgets and cut the entourage bloat before blowing up the whole format.velodromevirtuoso123-09-2026
- - The Outer Line is spot on: Worlds as a national-team event feels outdated when trade teams already handle logistics all year. Jorgenson Level 1 and the rest pay-to-play? That undermines competitive integrity, especially if the course favors squads that can afford to show up fully staffed.tourdeforce923-09-2026
- - Wait, so US riders have to pay $1,000 plus their own flights? For Worlds? How is that normal if they’re representing the country? Does the UCI not cover any of that?andrewf23-09-2026
- - Really solid piece. The Aussies leaving roster spots open is baffling when you’ve got depth in form. Matthews as a protected finisher with O’Connor/Hindley as climbing engines could’ve used extra domestiques on that Parc du Mont-Royal circuit.lindae23-09-2026
- - Quick question: are all the big nations actually fielding full 8-man squads? The article hints some may not—who’s missing riders due to rankings or injuries? Would change the whole breakaway math.patriciaw23-09-2026
- - Not sure the piece gives enough respect to Mads Pedersen’s engine over repeated short climbs. He can survive 12 laps and still kick. Denmark’s depth might be underplayed here.sprocketspiny23-09-2026
- - Van Aert as “Plan A2” is spot on. If Belgium commits Remco early and keeps Wout for the heavier sprint after repeated ramps, they’ve got both scenarios covered. Just don’t repeat Leuven’s chaos, lads.michael5423-09-2026
- - Curious: when he says “climbers around 65 kilos” like Seixas and Del Toro, how much does the Montréal circuit really mirror Worlds? Is the Chemin de Polytechnique comparable to the key climb on the WC course?lindae23-09-2026
- - Love this take from De Cauwer. Without Pogačar policing everything, the early move could actually stick. Remco + strong Italy/USA chasing could be fireworks.gearguru3323-09-2026
Loading