Laughing all the way to the bank? (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Following the first ten stages of the Tour de France, organisers Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) revealed which teams have been scooping up the most prize money at the race so far. According to official Tour statistics, the total prize fund this year is 3,269,760 euros, with 341,350 euros already accounted for after ten stages. The bulk of the prize money is awarded once the race finishes when money is handed out to the first 150 finishers on general classification.
Not surprisingly, after three stage victories (two from Riccardo Riccò and one from Leonardo Piepoli), Saunier Duval-Scott are the team with the fattest wallets bagging a total of 50,970 euros. A close second is Team Columbia, which has 50,680 euros courtesy of two stage wins by Mark Cavendish and Kim Kirchen's stint in yellow. In third is Caisse d'Epargne with 33,970 euros followed by Cofids and Gerolsteiner.
At the other end of the spectrum, the picture is not such a rosy one. Lampre and Quick Step have won the least prize money of all teams, netting just 3,220 and 1,050 euros each.
Prize money is typically shared out among riders and support staff within each team once the race finishes in Paris. The overall winner receives 450,000 euros while all riders placed 91st to 150th take home 400 euros for their efforts. Each stage winner is awarded 8000 euros and there are also prizes for intermediate sprints, mountains, young rider and teams classifications.
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