- Pogacar claimed his third Tour de France title during a stunning 2024 season
- The Slovenian star also took the world title and won the Giro d’Italia
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Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar will reportedly receive a record cycling salary after extending his contract with UAE Team Emirates.
The 26-year-old, who was already the highest-paid cyclist in the world, has signed a new contract with the team that runs until 2030.
Pogacar has been rewarded for his continued success, with the star having won three Tour de France titles in his career so far.
This year the Slovenian became the first rider since Marco Pantani in 1998 to win the Tour and the Giro d’Italia in the same season.
He then became only the third to achieve the triple crown – after Irishman Stephen Roche and Belgian great Eddy Merckx – by winning the world title in September.
Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar has signed a record-breaking cycling contract
The world champion will reportedly earn €50 million (£41.6 million) during his six-year contract
According to the Gazetta Dello SportPogacar will receive €50m (£41.6m) over his six-year contract.
The figure consists of a salary of £7 million per season plus bonuses, which represents a significant increase on his existing contract of £5 million per year.
Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel and two-time Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard are cycling’s next highest earners, with the pair reportedly earning €5 million (£4.1 million) per season.
Pogacar’s latest deal compares favorably with Premier League stars, where the average annual wage is reportedly around £3million.
“I am extremely proud to extend my time here at UAE Team Emirates,” said Pogacar upon extending his contract.
“This team has been my home for the past five years and I really can’t imagine myself anywhere else.
“The best moments of my career have come at UAE Team Emirates and that is a testament to all the staff, management, teammates and partners who all enable me to perform at the highest level. I am very excited about the future.
“This team gives me the best chance to fight for the win and that’s exactly what I want to do.”
Pogacar had a stunning 2024 season, becoming the third man to complete the triple crown
UAE Team Emirates star’s contract reportedly includes a staggering £167m release clause
According to Gazzette Dello Sport, UAE Team Emirates have doubled the release clause in Pogacar’s contract to make it virtually impossible for the star to leave before 2030.
The new release clause has reportedly been set at a whopping £167 million.
“Simply, Tadej is not on the market, he doesn’t want to leave, he is part of this country,” UAE team boss Mauro Gianetti told the Italian newspaper.
“What he does for Abu Dhabi is worth much more than the races he wins, and Pogacar is proud of it, it creates excitement: there are children who cry when they get a selfie from him, there is a nation that drives discovered and rides it, there is a very strong connection with the royal family.
‘Cycling has become the national sport.’