Neilson Powless is one of the most promising young talents in the world of cycling. He is the first US Native American to compete in the Tour de France, the most prestigious and challenging stage race in the sport. He has also won some impressive races, such as the Clásica de San Sebastián in 2021 and the Japan Cup in 2022. But how much does he earn as a professional cyclist? What is his net worth and contract situation? And what are some interesting facts about his personal life and background? In this article, we will answer all these questions and more.
Salary and Net Worth
The average salary of a WorldTour rider in 2020 was €264,000 ($312,000). However, this figure varies depending on the rider’s role, experience, performance, and team. For example, a top-level leader or sprinter can earn up to €5 million ($5.9 million) per year, while a domestique or helper can earn as low as €40,000 ($47,000) per year.
Neilson Powless is currently riding for EF Education–EasyPost, a UCI WorldTeam based in the US. He joined the team in 2020 after spending two seasons with LottoNL–Jumbo, a Dutch team. His contract with EF Education–EasyPost runs until the end of 2023. The exact amount of his salary is not publicly disclosed, but we can estimate it based on his role and results.
Powless is not a designated leader or sprinter for his team, but rather a versatile rider who can perform well in different terrains and scenarios. He is often part of the team’s support crew for their main GC contenders, such as Rigoberto Urán or Hugh Carthy. However, he also gets opportunities to go for stage wins or individual glory in some races, especially in the classics or one-day races. He has proven his ability to do so by winning the Clásica de San Sebastián in 2021 and the Japan Cup in 2022. He also finished fifth in the 2021 UAE Tour and fourth in the 2022 Tour de Suisse, two prestigious stage races.
Based on these factors, we can assume that Powless earns more than the average WorldTour rider, but less than the top stars of the sport. A reasonable estimate would be somewhere between €300,000 ($354,000) and €500,000 ($590,000) per year. This means that he makes between €25,000 ($29,500) and €41,667 ($49,167) per month.
Of course, this does not include other sources of income that Powless may have, such as bonuses, prize money, sponsorships, endorsements, or personal investments. These can add up to a significant amount depending on the rider’s popularity and success. For example, according to Business Insider, Tadej Pogačar earned €500,000 ($590,000) just for winning the 2020 Tour de France. He also received €25,000 ($29,500) for each stage win and €11,000 ($13,000) for each day in the yellow jersey.
Powless has not won any Grand Tours yet, but he has achieved some notable results in them. He finished 66th in the 2020 Tour de France and 36th in the 2021 Tour de France. He also wore the polka dot jersey as the leader of the mountains classification for four days in the 2023 Tour de France. He earned €1,500 ($1,770) for each day in the polka dot jersey and €300 ($354) for each point he scored in the mountains classification. He also earned €500 ($590) for each stage he completed.
Adding up these numbers, we can estimate that Powless earned around €20,000 ($23,600) from his participation in the 2023 Tour de France alone. This is not a huge amount compared to some of his rivals or teammates, but it is still a nice bonus on top of his salary.
As for his net worth, it is hard to determine without knowing his exact income and expenses. However, based on his estimated salary and earnings from cycling alone (excluding other sources), we can assume that he has a net worth of around €1 million ($1.18 million) as of 2023.
Contract
As mentioned earlier, Powless signed a contract with EF Education–EasyPost until the end of 2023. This means that he will be a free agent after this season and can negotiate with other teams or renew his deal with his current team.
Powless is one of the most sought-after riders in the transfer market for 2024. He has attracted interest from several teams, including Ineos Grenadiers, Movistar, Bahrain Victorious, and Israel Start-Up Nation. These teams are willing to offer him a higher salary and a more prominent role in their rosters.
However, Powless has also expressed his satisfaction and loyalty to EF Education–EasyPost, saying that he feels at home with the team and enjoys their culture and philosophy. He has praised the team’s management, staff, and riders for their support and guidance. He has also said that he likes the team’s unconventional and adventurous approach to cycling, which allows him to explore different aspects of the sport and the world.
Therefore, it is not clear whether Powless will stay with EF Education–EasyPost or move to another team for 2024. He will have to weigh his options carefully and decide what is best for his career and personal goals.
Earning Career
Powless started his cycling career as a junior rider in 2014. He won several national titles in road, mountain bike, and cyclo-cross disciplines. He also represented the US at the UCI Road World Championships in 2014 and 2015, finishing fourth and fifth respectively in the junior men’s road race.
He turned professional in 2016 with Axeon–Hagens Berman, a US-based development team. He won the Tour de Beauce and the Tour of Gila in his first season. He also finished second in the Tour of Utah and fourth in the Tour of California, two major US stage races. He continued to ride for Axeon–Hagens Berman in 2017, winning the Joe Martin Stage Race and finishing third in the Tour of Alberta.
He moved to LottoNL–Jumbo in 2018, making his debut at the WorldTour level. He did not win any races in his first season, but he showed his potential by finishing seventh in the Tour of California and eighth in the Tour de Pologne. He also made his Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta a España, where he helped his teammate Primož Roglič win the overall title.
He stayed with LottoNL–Jumbo in 2019, but he did not have a very successful season. He suffered from injuries and illnesses that affected his performance and confidence. He did not finish any races higher than 15th place. He also participated in his second Grand Tour at the Vuelta a España, where he again worked for Roglič, who repeated his victory.
He switched to EF Education–EasyPost in 2020, hoping for a fresh start and more opportunities. He had a breakthrough season, finishing fifth in the UAE Tour and fourth in the Tour de l’Ain. He also made history by becoming the first US Native American to compete in the Tour de France. He finished 66th overall and achieved a top-five stage finish.
He continued to improve in 2021, winning his first WorldTour race at the Clásica de San Sebastián. He also finished fifth in the UCI Road World Championships, earning a bronze medal as part of the US mixed relay team time trial squad. He completed his third Grand Tour at the Tour de France, where he finished 36th overall.
He had another stellar season in 2022, winning his second WorldTour race at the Japan Cup. He also finished fourth in the Tour de Suisse and seventh in Paris-Nice, two important stage races. He participated in his fourth Grand Tour at the Tour de France, where he wore the polka dot jersey for four days and finished 45th overall.
As of 2023, he has won four professional races: two WorldTour races (Clásica de San Sebastián and Japan Cup) and two lower-level races (Tour de Beauce and Joe Martin Stage Race). He has also earned several top-ten finishes in other races, such as UAE Tour, Tour de Suisse, Paris-Nice, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Ronde van Vlaanderen, Milano-Sanremo, and UCI Road World Championships.
Personal Life
Powless was born on September 3, 1996, at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. His father Scott is a retired Air Force officer who served for 20 years. His mother Annette is a nurse who works at a hospital. He has two older sisters: Shayna and Emma.
Powless grew up in Roseville, California, where he attended Oakmont High School. He was interested in sports from an early age, playing soccer, basketball, baseball, and golf. He also enjoyed skateboarding and snowboarding.
He discovered cycling when he was 14 years old after joining a local club called Folsom Bike Junior Development Team. He was inspired by his father Scott who was an avid cyclist himself. He quickly fell in love with cycling
and excelled in various disciplines, such as road, mountain bike, and cyclo-cross. He won several national titles and represented the US at international events.
Powless is a member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, one of the six nations of the Iroquois Confederacy. He is proud of his Native American heritage and culture. He wears a necklace with a turtle pendant, which symbolizes his clan and his connection to the earth. He also has a tattoo of a turtle on his left arm. He often uses the hashtag #turtlepower on his social media posts.
Powless is not married, but he has a girlfriend named Olivia Ray, who is also a professional cyclist. They met in 2018 when they were both riding for LottoNL–Jumbo. They have been dating since then and often train and travel together. They currently live in Girona, Spain, where they have a base for their European races.
Powless is a friendly and humble person who likes to have fun and enjoy life. He is known for his adventurous spirit and his willingness to try new things. He likes to explore different cultures and cuisines when he travels around the world. He also likes to play video games, watch movies, listen to music, and read books in his spare time.
Conclusion
Neilson Powless is one of the most talented and promising cyclists in the world. He has achieved remarkable results in his young career, such as winning two WorldTour races and becoming the first US Native American to compete in the Tour de France. He has also earned a respectable salary and net worth from his profession. He has a contract with EF Education–EasyPost until the end of 2023, but he may switch to another team for 2024 depending on his preferences and goals. He has a happy personal life with his girlfriend Olivia Ray, who is also a cyclist. He is proud of his Native American heritage and culture, which he expresses through his necklace, tattoo, and hashtag. He is a friendly and humble person who likes to have fun and enjoy life.
Most Asked Questions and Answers
Q: How old is Neilson Powless?
A: Neilson Powless is 27 years old as of 2023. He was born on September 3, 1996.
Q: What is Neilson Powless’s nationality?
A: Neilson Powless is an American citizen. He was born at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
Q: What is Neilson Powless’s ethnicity?
A: Neilson Powless is of mixed ethnicity. His father Scott is white and his mother Annette is Native American. He is a member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin.
Q: What is Neilson Powless’s height and weight?
A: Neilson Powless is 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) tall and weighs 65 kg (143 lb).
Q: What are Neilson Powless’s strengths and weaknesses as a cyclist?
A: Neilson Powless is a versatile rider who can perform well in different terrains and scenarios. He is good at climbing, time trialing, sprinting, and attacking. He can also ride well in the classics or one-day races. His weaknesses are his lack of experience and consistency in the Grand Tours and his tendency to suffer from injuries and illnesses.
Q: What are Neilson Powless’s best results as a cyclist?
A: Neilson Powless’s best results as a cyclist are:
- Winning the Clásica de San Sebastián in 2021
- Winning the Japan Cup in 2022
- Finishing fifth in the UCI Road World Championships in 2021
- Finishing fourth in the Tour de Suisse in 2022
- Wearing the polka dot jersey for four days in the Tour de France in 2023
Q: What team does Neilson Powless ride for?
A: Neilson Powless rides for EF Education–EasyPost, a UCI WorldTeam based in the US.
Q: How much does Neilson Powless earn as a cyclist?
A: Neilson Powless earns between €300,000 ($354,000) and €500,000 ($590,000) per year as a cyclist from his salary alone. He also earns additional income from bonuses, prize money, sponsorships, endorsements, or personal investments.
Q: What is Neilson Powless’s net worth?
A: Neilson Powless’s net worth is around €1 million ($1.18 million) as of 2023.
Q: Who is Neilson Powless’s girlfriend?
A: Neilson Powless’s girlfriend is Olivia Ray, who is also a professional cyclist. They met in 2018 when they were both riding for LottoNL–Jumbo. They have been dating since then and often train and travel together.