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What is a rider contract in cycling?
A rider contract is the written agreement between a professional cyclist and their team. For WorldTeams and ProTeams, the UCI requires contracts to follow its model and to include certain minimum terms.
The UCI model contract covers the basics: the parties, the start and end dates, the salary, the rider's status as employee or self-employed, and obligations on both sides, including insurance and anti-doping. Teams register contracts with the UCI, which checks that they meet the rules, including the minimum salary.
Beyond the model, contracts can include performance bonuses, image rights, equipment arrangements and clauses about leaving early. Most contracts run until 31 December of their final year, so riders change teams at the turn of the year.
The details are rarely made public. Salaries in particular are confidential, which is why outside estimates exist. When a figure is reported by a reliable source, we show it as reported; otherwise we show our estimate.
Riders' associations have long argued that lower-tier riders need more protection, and many riders sign without any legal advice. On howtoturnpro.com rider pages show contract end years where known, and our contracts page lists the riders whose contracts are ending.