I was thinking the other day that I wonder what the top trials riders get as a salary?
What do you think the likes of Bou, Raga, Fajardo etc would get paid?

Edited September 17, 201510 yr by atomant

I think there is also a destincion between income as salary, and things like your brand/merchandise/sponsorstuff etc.

 

But I dont know.

Im guessing raga is on 10 000 euros a month plus bonuses.

fajardo a bit more as hes the only beta rider and then Cabestany a bit less.

Do not give up the day job Guys.

 

I was informed by a Top Rider a few years ago that he was on less than 35K a year

Do not give up the day job Guys.

 

I was informed by a Top Rider a few years ago that he was on less than 35K a year

 

Thats rubbish. Mustn't have been a top guy then

I guess the distinction is that an absolutely top line trials rider may make a comfortable living while he's riding, but unlike many other sports this won't set him up for life after he retires, and he is likely to need to look for another source of income in his mid 30s. And there are very few opportunities to continue to get an income from trials related activity. Running trials training sessions? OK as a (very) part time job. Opening a bike shop? Limited opportunities for profit these days. Importing bikes? Ouch, several recent painful experiences in that area. Doesn't leave much...

Edited September 17, 201510 yr by cleanorbust

I guess the distinction is that an absolutely top line trials rider may make a comfortable living while he's riding, but unlike many other sports this won't set him up for life after he retires, and he is likely to need to look for another source of income in his mid 30s. And there are very few opportunities to continue to get an income from trials related activity. Running trials training sessions? OK as a (very) part time job. Opening a bike shop? Limited opportunities for profit these days. Importing bikes? Ouch, several recent painful experiences in that area. Doesn't leave much...

 

So what do you think someone like Bou or Cabestany would be paid  ?

Not unlike most sports... there may be a few that make the big bucks but even if those guys aren't wise investors they will most likely need to do something in there 40s and 50s. Unless you are independently wealthy best to stay in school and have a career to fall back on. Given the work ethic of any top flight athlete they will most likely do well at most things that they really put their mind to. Having decent nest egg to get them started into a new direction after riding isn't the worse thing that could happen.

Not unlike most sports... there may be a few that make the big bucks but even if those guys aren't wise investors they will most likely need to do something in there 40s and 50s. Unless you are independently wealthy best to stay in school and have a career to fall back on. Given the work ethic of any top flight athlete they will most likely do well at most things that they really put their mind to. Having decent nest egg to get them started into a new direction after riding isn't the worse thing that could happen.

Ok so put some numbers to it , what would you say Bou, Cabestany and Raga would be paid annually ?

Including bonus, indoor start money, I wold guess Bou 300k, Crabby 150k

Pure speculation on my part

I expect a lot less than most of the figures quoted above. Most income would be from personal sponsors like many in road racing, you'd be surprised how many top road racing riders actually pay to ride rather than being paid by a team, same in F1.

Looking at the photos from the retrotrials.com interviews, it seems all the former top riders are doing well living in nice estates.

Looking at the photos from the retrotrials.com interviews, it seems all the former top riders are doing well living in nice estates.

 

They were very different times to today, when WTC struggles to attract enough riders to claim all of the championship points available. That tells you something about the economics of the sport and hence earning potential of the riders.

 

I have no idea on salaries, but would guess that no more than ten-twelve riders are making a living purely as trials riders.

i read an interview with pol tarres' dad and he said that pol had to get sponsorship just to go to compete.

Edited September 17, 201510 yr by rob214