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Economics


chrischris's picture

By chrischris - Posted on 12 February 2013

Now that I've been a MTB fan for a few years, I'm trying to figure out how the pro's manage their income. I've been following Jason English & Ed McDonald on Strava. They put in a HUGE number of km's every week. I'm intriged to find out how they manage to get so much training time - money for all the food they must consume! - drive train replacements - general income for living etc.

I'm not asking for exact dollar amounts at all. I'm sure that sponsors & prize money take care of some of the costs.

Does anyone here have any inside knowledge on how the pros do it? I'm sure that the MTB scene isn't making the same amount of money as other sports are.

The 2nd question leading on from this is - how tough is it for the new young guys coming through? How much financial backing do they need to be able to compete and win to get sponsors attention?

Ian_A's picture

Jason English is a high school teacher, so I'd say thats actually his primary income and racing a small secondary.
Top level Aussie pro's like English and McDonald would most likely get their bikes, components, riding kit's and some nutrition stuff from sponsors etc.
Not sure that there is a lot of money to be made from riding a mountain bike.......

hawkeye's picture

... a kid in Jason English's Phys Ed class? Smiling

+1, no sheep stations in mountain biking.

Antsonline's picture

I have a fair bit of 'inside knowledge'.
I think its a bit of a myth that 'Pros' get free stuff.
Firstly, there are almost 'zero' pros out there in Australian MTB - i.e. people that get paid.
There are those that get some bonuses if they win, and of course there is prize money too.

The elite end of the sport isnt 'pro' in any sense though. They race hard, train harder, and fit their income generation in between. Most have put careers on hold, or on the back burner, in order to spend as much time training as possible.

Jason rode a bike from 2011 on the weekend at Stromlo. It was a bit of an old banger. Ed has just signed with Trek - and so he would get discounted products, and possible some entries paid for.
Training can be done in the morning and evening - pre and post work. The group I train with and coach all ride (typically) 1-2hrs pre work, and a similar time after work - a few days a week. Then a race or two on the weekend.

Its very tough to compete. Not just for young guns. For anyone. Merida has shut their team this year. Jet Racing - they just closed the team down - leaving all of the riders in the lurch.
The discussion that is always had about Aussie prices for bike kit (vs Wiggle and CRC) - that is also felt when brands, distributors are looking for margin - which is used to support a team. As less dollar is spent in Aus, less support will be given to the riders here.
Dont want to derail this convo into LBS vs Overseas shopping though.

Anyway - having been personally involved in contract negotiations for rides, mutiple approaches to sponsors for some funding, I can tell you that the bike industry is not what will support any rider to any great extent. Its outside industry - eg. Target Trek team, or the old Merida Flight Center team, or the new Swell Specialized.

Hope that helps?
You would be shocked at how the 'pro' riders you know very well really really battle to make it happen, which will ultimately lead to a weaker sport at a national and global level...

chrischris's picture

Thanks for the info Ants. That's kind of what I was assuming. Sorry to hear about Jet Racing.

The love of the sport really shines through with these guys.

evan's picture

Wow after their awesome year last year, that's a shock.
Hope the guys find new teams.

Cheers
Evan

Antsonline's picture

Thank you Evan for that. There were none more shocked than the riders themselves.
Some of the riders have new teams - Kyle is now with Rockstar.
It looks like I will continue with Specialized - in some capacity, but not a 'team' as such.
Garry is still trying to sort out some options.
Jayden is just about sorted.

We will try to regroup in a new team, together, at some point in the future - as we all train, and basically live, together (along with Ms J.Fay).
There is a strong mate-ship there.
That also includes the masters riders that rode under the Jet banner - Wayne, Brian, Steve, Paul and Matt.

It was a hugely successfull year from all perspectives - both results, and media coverage. We were surprised.

chrischris's picture

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