Feature image: Miguel Ena | other photography as credited
The 2019 Mark Gunter Photographer of the Year Awards closed last week, and over its duration, we received hundreds of incredible submissions from around the world – truly some of the best cycling photography of 2019. The Awards are a showcase for the talented entrant photographers, but they have two other important purposes – raising money for cancer research for Tour de Cure, and by providing financial support through Young Cyclist Assistance.
Now that entries are closed, it’s over to our panel of judges – Simon Wilkinson, Chris Auld, and Pauline Ballet – to decide who’s going to be awarded the Mark Gunter Photographer of the Year Awards. And this year Graham Watson returns as our honorary judge.
Each of the judges have gone through the difficult task of shortlisting their top ten images from each of the categories. From these shortlists, the judges will deliberate on the top three of each category in the coming days – with final winners to be announced on January 13, 2020.
“Since the beginning of the Mark Gunter Awards, I’ve always taken part, so it was a real honour to be asked to be a Judge this year.
I always enjoy looking at other people’s work, getting new ideas for shots, and seeing how others view races I’ve covered.
Whether you’re a budding amateur or a seasoned Pro the Gunter Prize is a great platform to get your work out there.
I can only see the competition going from strength to strength as the popularity of the sport increases and the availability of technology gives people the opportunity to capture images that a few years ago could only be dream’t of.
I’ve especially enjoyed looking at some of the entries shot from drones.”
Chris has over 20 years experience, photographing everything from portraits to sporting events.
A chance phone call from Cycling Weekly – some years back – saw him focus on cycling photography and pursue his dream job.
These days you’ll see Chris at many World Tour events and his magnificent images.
Chris has been a regular contender in the Awards making the shortlist several times.
Alex Broadway @_alexbroadway_: ‘2nd May 2019 Tour de Yorkshire – Stage 1: Doncaster – Selby – Nicholas Dlamini of Team Dimension Data leads the Peloton at Boothferry Bridge.’
Zac Williams @z_w_photography: “This image is from Stage 18 of the 2019 Tour de France. It shows Julian Alaphilippe descending the Col du Galibier, solo, after being dropped by the GC favourites on the climb. Alaphilippe flew past me into the blind corner behind where I was stood, truly laying everything on the line to secure another day in yellow.”
Eloise Mavian @eloisemavian: “We photographers tend to avoid this kind of situation, but I couldn’t help myself with wanting to shoot up close this beautiful moment: Annemiek Van Vleuten holding her well-deserved trophy unaware of the imminent prosecco shower thrown by her teammates. Annemiek won the GC, points classification and QOM of the Giro Rosa 2019.”
Kristof Ramon @kramon_velophoto: “”Hugging Helmets” > Team Jumbo-Visma just won the opening TTT in Brussels of the 2019 TdF. In the scrum that followed, I had no better option then to stretch my arm above it and eyeball (and shoot) a few frames. The resulting pic captured the outburst of joy perfectly.”
Daghan Perker @dperker: “Caroline Mani gives everything and collapses at the finish line after a hard and muddy race at Trek CX Cup.”
Jeff Vander Stucken @jeffvsphoto: “This shot of Anthony Clark (@tweakin101) at the Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships sums up so much of the day: spattered with mud, charging out of a dilapidated camper/trailer packed with revelers handing up all manner of beverage. Words can’t describe the party that was going on in there.”
James Startt (Peloton Magazine/Agence Zoom) @jstartt: “I love discovering new races, and one of my favorite races in recent years has been the Tour de Provence. And this year’s race offered and unexpected surprise when it entered the Circuit Paul Ricard, France’s foremost Formula 1 race track. Known for its distinctive blue stripes in the turns and on the edges it also provided an utterly magical backdrop when the peloton entered. And in all of my years covering cycling, something I had never quite seen.”
Luca Bettini @lucabettini87: “Milano Sanremo, Capo Berta a group of fans lit smoke bombs as the group passed by.”
Philipp Hympendahl @philipp_hympendahl: “I was so often at the Muur and did not want to go again, because I thought all stories were told and than I found this spot, where I was not allowed to stand, so I shot, kneeing on the ground, camera through a barrier, not able to check the viewfinder.
Miguel Ena @enasanjuan “Alaphilippe arrived in the Pyrenees with the intention of defending the yellow with teeth and nails, but nothing further from reality, with the French fans crowded in the roadside, he set the best time of the day. A serious candidate for the GC?”
Nathan Schneeberger @snowymountainphotography: “Caroline Mani, the French National Champion, collapsed into the mud after finishing 6th at the Telnet World Cup Waterloo race. (Waterloo, WI).”
Wilco Dragt @@wilcodragtphotography: “Stairway to Heaven. Cyclocross is quite popular in the Netherlands, not in the least because of Mathieu van der Poel. His father, Adrie van der Poel, excelled also in CX-cycling, being a former world champion himself. One cyclocross race is named after him , the GP Adrie van der Poel. One of the hotspots in the track is the famous stairway. In this years women’s race the leaders of the race are conquering the steps. Lucinda Brand, the later winner, is the first to reach the top.”
Roderick De Guzman @rodpedals: “When a pro rider comes home for the holidays and gets a homecoming reception (and a target on his back!). The pro taking the corner at the Teardrop with precision and speed. The other racers keeping up behind him. Local boy and EF Education First pro rider, Jimmy Whelan comes home for the Australian summer. Joins the local crits at the Hawthorn Cycling Club, showing some love!”
Luis Alcantarilla @eltoromediadotcom: “The British contingent. British National Time Trial champion Alex Dowsett is out of the darkness. I watched Alex at the National TT in 2018 and saw just how devastated he was to finish 3rd behind Tanfield and an absolutely peak Geraint Thomas. He prepared immensely for the Worlds, reclaiming his national title and on home roads, put in an incredible ride to finish 5th at Yorkshire2019.”
Daniela Tommasi @daniela_tommasi_photography: “Cyclocross from the air. This image was taken with a drone at the Beverley Heroic, a weekend of cycling events in the Wheatbelt that celebrates one of Australia’s toughest race. The original Beverley ran from 1897 to 1999 between Beverley and Perth.”
Demi Owen @dewiowen.cc: “This was the moment when Mathieu Van Der poll was dropped after pushing hard at the front in Harrogate during Yorkshire 2019.”
Ron Short @shortcycles: “Morning training ride in New jersey. Photographed myself using the interval timer on my camera.”
Daniel Hughes @danielhughesuk: “Pic Du Midi a hidden treasure. This climbs starts from the top of Le Col Du Tourmalet and takes you upto 2877m. My favourite gravel climb so far. Big reveals, big exposed walls and an incredible day to photograph with the clouds rolling in and out. This shot apart from being made Black and White has had no further edit.”
Angelica Dixon @angelicadixon825: “Water resistance. Travis Dixon/Pro Group Contracting Fall River Criterium/ Fall River, MA.”
John Braynard @jbraynard: ”This the small bit of all cobble road at the very top of the Grossglockner Alpine Road in the Austrian Alps. It is one of a kind – nothing like it in the world.”
Robbie Allen @Robbiedustyallen: ”This Xmas holiday I took the bike into the mountains behind Ulladulla just near Pidgeon House and ….. far out😢. Not sure if it was the smoke stinging my eyes, the loss of wildlife or just acknowledging the legendary effort of our firies👨🏻🚒👩🏼🚒but this ride was gut-wrenchingly real. Stating this country needs rain fast… is surely the understatement of 2019.”
David Mai @sailinbum: “One of the most iconic stretches of road in California. Ridgecrest never disappoints.”
Matt Stevenson @mattwstevenson: “The open road lies ahead – where it goes I don’t know, but I can tell you it’s where adventure begins. Just how I felt at this moment near the top of the Gotthard pass, with a storm coming in, the excitement of the ride ahead and the stress of out-riding the storm I felt were captured perfectly.”
Matt Stevenson @mattwstevenson: “Winter is almost here, the high passes could soon be blocked. The road from Kenmore towards Crieff looking towards the east. Not for the faint hearted this road. The climb weaves over open moorland, exposed to the elements with gradients up to 25%. I’ll be back to tackle this one again in the spring but for now it’s time to enjoy lower level roads as winter closes in.”
Galen Stilgebauer @lightersideimages: “S is for Super FUN! Colorado cyclocross State Championships, Elite men. What a race!”
Galen Stilgebauer @lightersideimages: “There are many famous and mythological climbs in Europe. This is not one of them. It could be.”
Rasmus Pellizotti @traedekongen: “Last effort before the hotel in Bilbao after a long day in the saddle.”
Tim McInnes @timmymcinny: “‘Taken from the top of Stwlan Dam in Snowdonia, a 3km up and back climb to a pump storage reservoir. I love climbing switchbacks and this has 5 or 6 near the top, something quite unique in the UK. Ever since I heard about this I’d wanted to climb it, and I convinced a group of 7 friends to join me on a perfect morning this Summer in a weekend away in Wales (one of whom you can see descending in this photo).”
Graeme Langhorne @Graemelanghorne: “A freezing cold evening descent of the Col du Galibier in September. Everything about this mountain is immense, and the light disappearing behind the peaks that day was magical. #Galibier #MarkGunterPhotoAwards19.”
Thank you Chris Auld for your insightful choices.
To catchup on all the Showcases visit Mark Gunter Photography. and here to see Simon Wilkinson’s shortlist and Pauline Ballet’s shortlist.
For more information on the #markgunterphotoawards2019 check out CyclingTips.