What is a sprinter in cycling?
A sprinter is a rider who specialises in winning flat stages and races with a bunch sprint, reaching very high speeds over the final 200 to 300 metres.
Sprinters produce the highest peak power in the peloton, often well above 1,500 watts for a few seconds. They are usually heavier and more muscular than climbers, which makes high mountains hard for them. In Grand Tours their first goal in the mountains is often just to finish inside the time cut.
A sprinter's success depends heavily on the team. A strong lead-out train puts the sprinter in the right place, at the right speed, at the right moment. Without it, even a fast rider will struggle to win.
Sprinters often win more races than any other type of rider, which makes them valuable to sponsors. The points classification at the Grand Tours, such as the green jersey at the Tour de France, usually goes to a sprinter or a rider with a strong sprint.
Our earnings-per-win ranking divides estimated salary by wins in the season, which tends to favour prolific sprinters. Only riders with at least the stated minimum number of wins appear.