The UCI Continental scene is cycling’s third division. It is a smorgasbord of lower-ranked UCI events – think Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic in the UK – with a few higher-level races thrown in. Conti teams are not eligible to compete in WorldTour events.
In some countries, Conti riders are paid a wage. in France and Belgium, for instance, riders are regarded as professionals, and their minimum salary is around €25,000. In other countries, average wages are even lower, between €11,000 and €22,000. Worse still, in some countries, including in the UK, wages are not mandatory, and often only expenses are paid.
Second-tier men’s UCI ProTeams have a current minimum wage of €40,045 for employed riders and €65,673 for self-employed riders. Women have had ProTeams since 2025, and their minimum wage is…