Interesting article from Le Monde on salaries of pro cyclists, and specifically the disparities between the stars and the others. A few tidbits: Contador makes 2-3 million euros per year between salary and image rights; Chavanel's the highest paid Frenchman at 700,000. Maxime Bouet, on the other hand, makes 1,700 euros net per month, though in 2008 he also made 7,000-10,000 in prize money. Salaries are on the rise - average has gone from 70,000 in 2002 to 136,000 this year. Pro Tour minimum is 2,750 gross per month (2,250 with less than 2 years experience); for continental teams it's 2,292 and 1,916. According to Cedric Vasseur, president of the cyclists' union (btw does anyone know anything about this union? I don't), 30% of pro cyclists make the minimum salary.