Winspace Orange Seal earns only 290 euros at Tour de France féminin

A small French cycling team earned only 290 euros while others cashed in much more.

Winspace Orange Seal earns shockingly low prize money at Tour de France féminin

In the recent Tour de France féminin, the French team Winspace Orange Seal received an astonishingly low prize of just 290 euros after nine days of racing. This amount starkly contrasts with the nearly 77,000 euros awarded to the Visma - Lease A Bike team led by Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. Out of six teams, three received less than 1,000 euros, raising concerns about financial disparities within women's cycling compared to their male counterparts. For instance, the UAE team for men secured over 700,000 euros, illustrating a significant gap in prize money based on performance and experience in the sport. While men raced for 21 days, women's cycling has yet to match that duration, yet the thriving interest in the women's Tour calls for necessary changes in prize distributions for future events.

The disparity in prize money highlights a troubling trend in women's sports, where economic support and recognition lag behind that of men's. The contrast in payment is more than just figures; it reflects societal attitudes towards female athletes. As the popularity of women's cycling continues to rise, there is an urgent need for stakeholders to address these inequalities. Teams like Winspace Orange Seal, despite their limited earnings, have achieved the visibility necessary to advocate for better financial treatment moving forward.

Highlights

Continued advocacy could reshape financial rewards in women's cycling for the future.