UCI Continental Level, professional or not ?

harringtonp

If you read the likes of

http://cyclingtips.com.au/2009/02/pro-team-structure-what-does-it-all-mean/

you get the impression that Continental level is more or less an amateur racing level with good expenses.

On the other hand the RAS is often described as a professional race with county teams, however all the "professional" teams are Continental level.

So what exactly is it ? Do some riders work part time ? Do they get paid and if they do is it minimum wage or are some on quite good remuneration at this level ? Presumably in all cases all expenses while racing are covered ?

XtotheZ

as far as I know the VAST majority dont get paid at all, they just get expenses paid and race winnings which is pooled. A few odd riders may get paid, Not cert but I think Niko Eckthout was the only rider paid on An Post when he rode for them and he moved into a managerial role anyway and his family sponsered the team.

RobFowl

The distinction between amateur and pro is a fairly artificial one these days as they all compete together. The minimum wage only applies to Pro continental and protour/World tour teams (although its reputedly paid lip service there too).
Most riders at conti level are on glorified expenses although some are on salaries albeit very low ones.
The comments from conti riders about "turning pro" when moving up to WT/PC level seems to be a British phenomenon and IMO is a snob value thing to differentiate them from domestic pros (there was always a British domestic pro circuit and continental riders looked down on them).

Zipp101

Many amateur riders actually PAY to be on continental teams. Charley Wegelius makes reference to this in his book about how riders who come from a wealthy family or get a sponsor on board pay a premium to join a team.
Personally I know a guy riding for Burgos-BH in Spain at the moment who is doing exactly that. He paid 15 grand for the year which seems obscene.

Wegelius also mentions in regard to the "minimum wages" that he has witnessed scenarios where riders would get paid on the books but pay it back to the team in brown envelopes to keep it above board in the eyes of the UCI, essentially riding for nothing. Outside of the upper echelons of the sport (pun intended), it seems there is very little money involved.

Jim Stynes

It has to be one of the worst mainstream sports to be a pro, in terms of how hard the sport is compared to what money you get. Apart from the top men it doesn't seem to be good money at all.

harringtonp

Take for example some of the UK Continental teams doing the RAS at the moment: JLT, NFTO, Madison.

The riders must surely be paid something or at least as hinted above on "glorified expenses". They can't all come from rich supporting families... If they are not getting some wage or salary then presumably they are working some type of 9-5 (or at the very least parttime) job and taking holidays to do the RAS ? And if this is the case then they are squeezing training around their work and are no different from many of the local county men....

Which makes me think that they earn at least enough to put food in their bellies, a roof over their head and have the odd night out.

Basically there must be some real practical distinction between continental and local teams.

el tel

I always assumed that even the majority of WT riders were on faily "ordinary" wages and certainly less than 6 figures.

However, when you see how many riders live in Monaco, I now wonder. There are millionaires who can't afford to live in Monoco. So do the cyclists all live in a dorm in bunkbeds or what?

godtabh

harringtonp wrote: »

Take for example some of the UK Continental teams doing the RAS at the moment: JLT, NFTO, Madison.

The riders must surely be paid something or at least as hinted above on "glorified expenses". They can't all come from rich supporting families... If they are not getting some wage or salary then presumably they are working some type of 9-5 (or at the very least parttime) job and taking holidays to do the RAS ? And if this is the case then they are squeezing training around their work and are no different from many of the local county men....

Which makes me think that they earn at least enough to put food in their bellies, a roof over their head and have the odd night out.

Basically there must be some real practical distinction between continental and local teams.

#

Not sure if this is still the case but from the rides biographies I've read they were all put up by a team in a team house or what ever and had food ext paid for. They also got a bit of walking around money.

Thud

Jim Stynes wrote: »

It has to be one of the worst mainstream sports to be a pro, in terms of how hard the sport is compared to what money you get. Apart from the top men it doesn't seem to be good money at all.

Entry cost is higher than most sports too, a decent bike is a lot more than a pair of football boots

harringtonp wrote: »

Which makes me think that they earn at least enough to put food in their bellies, a roof over their head and have the odd night out.

Basically there must be some real practical distinction between continental and local teams.

How much of the gear do they get to keep? are team bikes given to or loaned out for the season?