Prize Money, Salaries, and Sponsorships

In the American workplace, the wage gap between female and male employees is right around 17 percent. In elite sport, your pay largely depends on sponsorships. While prize money and salary in Nordic Skiing and Track and Field are largely equal, in Cycling, there is much work to be done.

Cracks in the Road

The pro peloton for women is rough when it comes to earning any sort of money. According to a 2013 survey by the Women's Cycling Association, 50% of 'professional' female cyclists (with professional in this case meaning licensed to a professional team) earned less than $3,000 per year from their salaries. With such a low racing wage, many female cyclists opt to continue working close to full time in order to supplement their racing income. Three-time US Road Cycling Champion Megan Guarnier signed her first "pro" contract in 2008, but had to continue working upwards of 30 hours per week, on top of her racing and training commitments, in order to make ends meet in 2012.

Although salaries are low, athletes can still supplement their salary by placing well in races. In a one day race, the minimum prize money for the women's winner is 1,150€. While results are largely based on individual efforts, cycling is a team sport. Unfortunately that means that the prize money is more often than not going to be split evenly among the team riders and support staff, so with a team of 8 plus staff counting as one more, the 'winner' really only takes home a little under 130€ from her victory.

Amateur Hour

Thankfully, these types of inequalities are being seen and heard by local race organizers in the US, and more and more amateur events are highlighting equal prize money for both genders. USA Cycling, as a part of their National Road Calendar and their Pro Road Tour, requires race organizers to provide equal or equitable prize purses for each g

The Sponsor Commitment

One big issue with the lack of salaries at the women's professional level is that sponsors are a large player in paying athletes. Because women's cycling doesn't draw as much exposure as men's, sponsors aren't willing to commit to as much funding as they should.