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In the last B Practice Podcast, we discussed Dakotah Norton’s 3rd place podium at the Val di Sole World Cup, and in particular, his take-home prize money. Hilariously enough, Dak forgot to claim his winnings until we brought it up during the podcast. Hopefully, he has followed up with that because for being 3rd fastest on the day, he earned himself 1,250€, or $1,211 USD.
You might think, “Dang, that isn’t much money for a podium finish at a World Cup.” And I would completely agree. In fact, the UCI only pays prize money for 1st - 10th (per round, with equal pay in XCO and DH, and Elite Men/Women), with first place earning 3,750€ ($3,633) and 10th place earning 200€ ($193).
I have two problems with these facts:
1. The prize money is way too low for professional-level racing. You can find UCI prize money information for all forms of cycling they govern, and the prize money available for 1-10 place does not match the skill required to finish in the top 10.
2. Prize money should be provided for more than the top 10 finishers, at least in Elite categories. If the UCI has decided that 60 Elite Men and 15 Elite Women is the cut-off to race at the elite level, then some compensation should be provided for all riders. You are undeniably a professional rider if you can qualify for a downhill World Cup.
In the podcast, we compared World Cup downhill with AMA Supercross. I know there are plenty of differences between the sports, but in Supercross, all 22 riders who qualify for the main event are compensated, with 22nd place earning $2,000 USD (pulled from 2021 Supplementary Regulations). Additionally, all riders who did not qualify for the main event, but finished the Last Chance qualifier, receive compensation (5th - 22nd place), with last place earning $1,070 USD. Why can’t a similar prize money format be used for downhill World Cups?
Beyond the fact that it takes immense skill to compete at the World Cup level, another angle to look at the situation is that the UCI and, moving forward, Discovery Sports, broadcast downhill to make a profit. That is not their only motivating factor, but it is part of the equation. Without the riders, there is no show. Of course, the live broadcast typically doesn’t show all Elite Men/Women, but it shows way more than the top 10 riders.
Debating prize money in downhill racing is nothing new. Still, as we look towards the future with Discovery taking over broadcasting with promises to grow the sport to new levels, I hope there are more financial reasons for riders to line up between the tape. It’s absurd to me thinking about how much work, sacrifice, risk, and time it took Dakotah to achieve his first podium, and he only made $1,211.
You might think, “Dang, that isn’t much money for a podium finish at a World Cup.” And I would completely agree. In fact, the UCI only pays prize money for 1st - 10th (per round, with equal pay in XCO and DH, and Elite Men/Women), with first place earning 3,750€ ($3,633) and 10th place earning 200€ ($193).
I have two problems with these facts:
1. The prize money is way too low for professional-level racing. You can find UCI prize money information for all forms of cycling they govern, and the prize money available for 1-10 place does not match the skill required to finish in the top 10.
2. Prize money should be provided for more than the top 10 finishers, at least in Elite categories. If the UCI has decided that 60 Elite Men and 15 Elite Women is the cut-off to race at the elite level, then some compensation should be provided for all riders. You are undeniably a professional rider if you can qualify for a downhill World Cup.
In the podcast, we compared World Cup downhill with AMA Supercross. I know there are plenty of differences between the sports, but in Supercross, all 22 riders who qualify for the main event are compensated, with 22nd place earning $2,000 USD (pulled from 2021 Supplementary Regulations). Additionally, all riders who did not qualify for the main event, but finished the Last Chance qualifier, receive compensation (5th - 22nd place), with last place earning $1,070 USD. Why can’t a similar prize money format be used for downhill World Cups?
Beyond the fact that it takes immense skill to compete at the World Cup level, another angle to look at the situation is that the UCI and, moving forward, Discovery Sports, broadcast downhill to make a profit. That is not their only motivating factor, but it is part of the equation. Without the riders, there is no show. Of course, the live broadcast typically doesn’t show all Elite Men/Women, but it shows way more than the top 10 riders.
Debating prize money in downhill racing is nothing new. Still, as we look towards the future with Discovery taking over broadcasting with promises to grow the sport to new levels, I hope there are more financial reasons for riders to line up between the tape. It’s absurd to me thinking about how much work, sacrifice, risk, and time it took Dakotah to achieve his first podium, and he only made $1,211.
Anybody on here know how this could be done or want to set it up?
I’d much rather that money be allocated for local racing and growing the national and regional series of major mtb countries. One it would make the national and regional series a draw for the top guys and two it could really help someone on the cusp of pro extend their season or decrease their outside financial requirements in a pivotal year.
And I completely agree, I’d love to see more funding behind regional/national events. I’d like to believe downhill racing and the UCI is currently in a position that it doesn’t have to be one or the other, and we could grow regional downhill racing while also supporting World Cup level athletes.
I don’t disagree the uci could probably better allocate its funds. But I’d rather see them invest in plenty of other places.
Maybe I’m jaded as I’ve chosen a career that I know pays me much less than what I’m capable of in other fields and am 100 percent ok with that decision. Sure I wish Dak and others nothing but the best when it comes to earning more $$$. But my heart doesn’t exactly bleed for a guy just getting by riding a bike around the world.
If the roadies can put the work in and get first, and then a DHer can put the work in and get first, they should get comparable amounts of money (maybe scaled by viewership? I have no concept for how many people watch road races)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCjVKoKlhGA
This is just part of the podcast, the whole thing is worth a listen.
I've never had any sympathy for sportspeople believing they deserve to earn money just because they were blessed with the ability to kick a ball accurately or run fast or whatever so it would be hypocritical of me to treat mountain bikers any differently. The prize money is a reflection of the commercial value of the sport. If that's not good enough, either do it for the enjoyment, or find something else to do that will support you financially.
Making a living from sport has always only ever been for the best of the best anyway, it's not a sensible career choice for normal people, or even most athletes who aren't top tier.
At world cups it's the local organizer that pays the prize money, not the UCI. World Champs is different, there it's the UCI that pay out.
However, the UCI cover all the overall prize money for the season rankings (€10,000 for first place)
But it's local organizers that have to budget for prize money etc... for each individual World Cup round. The problem then is that the UCIs business model is terrible, So blame lies at their feet. The prize money amounts haven't increased in a long time as the burden would fall on the local organizer and would be another reason why less venues would bid for events.
UCI needed to update their business model long ago and work around the taxation issues for each country etc... and pay out better prize money.
From next year the series will be run by ESO(EWS)/Discovery. So we can hope that the prize money situation will improve in the future. Sadly the chances of it improving ASAP are slim. EWS has been around for 10 years now and the prize money is much worse than World Cups. BUT an EWS entry fee is 3 X that of a World Cup (with no cap, unlike World Cups which are capped at €80 for elites and €40 for juniors).
So we'll see how things progress, or regress when the new masters take the reigns.
https://assets.ctfassets.net/761l7gh5x5an/2srMOd0YVoMoe45sGhZdV9/7be34c…
Looks to me like UCI biggest issue is lack of vision, staff and competence to aim for big things with the world Cup.
Now it's in ESO/discovery hands and sadly they'll probably corporatize it and dumb it down so much that it'll be meaningless to the true fans and not very interesting to the casual observer/viewer.
But perhaps take that money and give it to the top 3 privateers via Wyn Masters privateer of the week award. That would be a much better use of funds IMO.
This possibly is the issue with less locations hosting, as they (the host) needs to stump up $21690euro for just DH or $44860euro for both XC & DH.
For hosts, its a heap of money, added to the UCI event fees, the minimum requirement for medical cover $$$ etc. Then all the usual event costs to deliver the event.
I'm working with a team looking at a WC (BMX two rounds) and its a $400Keuro delivery, prize money of $53,600euro is a significant portion of the total.
Unless there is a significant sponsor attached to an event, then this is a hard ask to deliver the minimum.
Any increase for the segment of the event, is purely supplied by the Host. If UCI decide to increase the minimum, then it is the host the need to find this money.
I'm not saying that they should or should not deserve more. Its finding out where is will come from
On the other hand, these UCI deals make sponsorship agreements from teams with competing companies harder or impossible, de facto costing the athletes income.
@buckoW: interesting idea, but my guess is that will already happen with Discovery and their potential pay-to-view models if they, at the same time, increase the price money for the winners.
The reality is, the prize money will not materially change if the riders keep showing up to race. This won't change unless there is a viable alternative to UCI WC DH, which is unlikely (unless the Saudis get involves
I'd also suggest this conversation ends up becoming a bigger conversation pertaining to the business model of race promoting, which I will spare this thread from, but you can pay your riders if you are putting on a show for a much bigger audience than we have in the past. (though, this may be an assumption that is wrong, Stik suggested WCDH on RBTV is bigger than SX).
Likewise Mercedes being the title sponsor doesn't exclude riders or teams getting automotive deals, Reece Wilson was sponsored by Volvo (or is?). Likewise Red Bull obviously have a big presence in the series but that doesn't stop Monster sponsoring athletes.
Vittoria tyres are a sponsor of the World cup series for many seasons now - doesn't stop Maxxis or Schwalbe sponsoring team and winning races!
There will always be difficulties and conflicts in procuring sponsorship. What did you expect the UCI to do? Not bring in any sponsors for the series?
Guys like Bernard want their cake and they want to eat it too.
And sadly for Bernard and maybe all of us media restrictions, rights issues, sponsor conflicts etc... are about to get A WHOLE LOT worse with the new series owners. The classic iPhone mash-up from practice day at a World Cup will be a thing of the past.
Let's just hope the prize money and other benefits increase
Sure I'd like them to get paid better, and if they were, I might have continued racing rather than become an engineer. But at the end of the day, the racers are responsible for their choices, and they chose to participate in a high risk sport with little financial incentive. It's not like this information was hidden from them.
They really need to protest the issue by not showing up for the races. Nothing will change for them until they actually do something besides create Youtube videos about it.
Either way the prize money is embarrassingly low compared to road. Cool to see US open with some decent cash.
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