Bunch sprints, summit finishes and a GC battle that’s already beginning to sizzle, the Vuelta a España has to this point handled followers to thrills and spills aplenty.
A lot as they love driving bikes, each rider current has earned their spot the onerous approach, residing an austere life-style and going through down the dangers concerned within the sport. Nonetheless, prestigious races just like the Vuelta are the place they’ll earn the large bucks in return.
However precisely how large are these large bucks, you could surprise – and the way do they stack up towards its sibling Grand Excursions, the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia?
In all probability unsurprisingly – given it is probably the one one of many three that each member of your loved ones, together with the non-cyclists, has heard of – the Tour de France is the daddy of all of them. Established in 1903, it got here alongside first and is a veritable behemoth – the largest annual sporting occasion on the planet, is the well-used quote.
The Italian and Spanish races have at all times existed within the shadow of the Tour, however each have their admirers. The Giro has definitely benefitted from the pure tendency of biking followers – as with these in motorsport – to be naturally drawn to the type and pedigree of all issues Italian and has picked up the useful moniker ‘La bella corsa’.
As compared Giro d’Italia winner Simon Yates walked away with €265,668 (£229K / $308K) for his general victory – a part of a €1.6 million complete prize pot.
Whoever wins the Vuelta this yr shall be awarded the comparatively modest €150,000 (£129K / $174K) as a part of a complete prize fund of €1,115,775 (£962K / $1.29m).
In fact, there are additionally prizes inserting excessive on the GC, and for successful classifications and levels. Maybe surprisingly, the prize for the latter is similar throughout all three races, with these successful levels within the Tour, Giro and Vuelta all scooping €11,000 (£9,480 / $12,750) for his or her efforts – virtually. Curiously, the Giro d’Italia provides barely extra with winners netting €10 euros further.
It is value declaring that whereas it might be the race winner who’s awarded the prize, they do not get to maintain it as their very own. Not less than, not all of it. Biking is a crew sport in spite of everything. After a race just like the Tour de France or the Vuelta a España, a crew will sit down and rely its winnings, distributing them throughout all those that performed a component.