In a remarkable victory for Team UAE Emirates and their star cyclist Tadej Pogacar in the 2024 Tour de France, they claimed more than one-third of the entire prize pot worth €2.28 million (£1.9m). For the team with an overall budget close to €50m ($63m), and given Pogacar's annual earnings around six or seven million euros, along with his endorsements, this amount seems almost insignificant in comparison.
During their journey from Florence to Nice, the 25-year-old Slovenian cyclist dominated all competition, winning both the Giro d'Italia by an impressive margin and nearly sweeping victory at the Tour de France if he had been more aggressive earlier on. Pogacar joins cycling’s "big four" stage race riders alongside Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel, and Primoz Roglic in this elite group of cyclists.
Pogacar's future prospects lie beyond the Tour de France as he becomes a major figure with lucrative opportunities from endorsements, sponsorships, and special events. His team sports director, Matxin Fernández, praises Pogacar’s character and attitude, stating that it complements an exceptional team working towards their champion cyclist's success.
The support provided by Team UAE Emirates in back-to-back wins at the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France is unparalleled. Many of Pogacar’s fellow riders, including Adam Yates from Britain and João Almeida from Portugal, have contributed significantly to their team's successes this season.
With his Olympic aspirations in mind, Pogacar faces a new challenge as he leads Team UAE Emirates during the men's road race at the Olympics in Paris. Despite being closely scrutinized and targeted by other top competitors like Evenepoel and Wout van Aert, his confidence remains unshaken: "There will always be doubters," Pogacar said following their victory at the Tour de France.
However, despite potential adversities in the future, he emphasizes that it is a common occurrence in all sports where success often breeds jealousy and criticism from others.
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