Feature image: Kristof Ramon | 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.
“It’s been a privilege to be involved in the judging. So many super images and I Iove looking at pictures. The sport of Cycling really does give up great photography.
For me though a picture is all about telling a story. If it’s not telling me something and the only quality about it is “it’s a nice picture,” then I’m not interested really. ‘Style’ over ‘Content’ is all well and good, but I always look for ‘Content’ over ‘Style’.”
Simon Wilkinson is an experienced sports photographer, and the founder of the SWPix.com photo agency.
Based in Yorkshire UK, Simon has covered numerous Tours de France, along with most of the other major events in the sporting calendar.
Simon has been an active participant in the Awards and most recently ranked within the top 10 in 2018.
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.”
Chiara Redaschi @chiara_redaschi: “Loulou just after his victory at Milano Sanremo, a moment of pure joy with his masseur.”
Tomas Montes @@arrieredupeloton: “On the third day of the Pan Celtic Race, the ultra-distance race would pass through an iconic Irish place called The Dark Hedges. Matt, the organizer, led us there to try to photograph the head of the race. But when we arrived at the place I thought it wasn’t worth the photo because it was full of tourists. But for once the rain was allied with us and a huge storm dumped upon us by emptying the place and creating the perfect scenary to capture the place and the thoughness of the race it self.”
Eloise Mavian @eloisemavian: “Every year during the majestic Milano Sanremo, although strictly forbidden, there is always someone firing up some smoke bombs at the ascent of Capo Berta. This year some bushes were accidentally set on fire, here’s the rider Kristijan Koren captivated by the smoke and fire.”
Nils Laengner @nils_laengner: “Final Prayer. Team Rwanda is gathering for a last quick prayer. It worked out. Munyaneza Didier keeps the yellow till the end of the Tour du Senegal.”
Kristof Ramon @kramon_velophoto: “”The Great Devider” > As the race did a local finish lap (in stage 5 of the 2019 Giro), I went in search of a good spot to shoot the peloton passing by and found it at a roundabout 1 km behind the finish where they would then split right in front of me with the long, wet Main Street behind them …but -per usual- just ahead of the arrival of the peloton, a safety marshal pulled up and in his fluo outfit&flag added an extra layer to this pic that I couldn’t have staged better myself. ever.”
Kristof Ramon @kramon_velophoto: “1 of the most impressive procycling moments of 2019: Annemiek van Vleuten attacks up Cray Hill (during the 2019 Worlds in Yorkshire) and initiates a mammoth 100+ km solo ride into Harrogate that would crown her the new Elite Women World Champion. The atmosphere of Yorkshire was perfectly captured as well here.”
Jordan Benjamin-Sutton @peloton_perspective: “Mads Pedersen is surrounded by the media after claiming victory in the 2019 World Championships in Harrogate.”
Iraia Calvo @iraiacalvo: “Richard Carapaz makes history entering pink in the Arena of Verona and being the first Ecuatorian to win Giro di Italia.”
Balint Hamvas @cyclephotos: “27 seconds. Mathieu van der Poel looks back at the finish line, after winning the DVV Verzekeringen Trofee in Kortrijk by 27 seconds.”
Anthony Leutenegger @anthonyleutenegger: “”The agony of defeat.” Just after the final sprint at the CX WC in Bogense I heard a shrill scream in the finishing area. Shooting amongst the craziness past the finishing line I saw french rider Marion Norbert-Riberolle burst into tears and collapse against the fence. She sobbed along the fence whilst her mother tried to comfort her from the other side.”
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?”
Rupert Hartley @ruperthartleyphoto: “Neil Lauder takes the Ferry from Scotland to Northern Ireland during the inaugural Pan Celtic Ultra Race. He had led the race for much of the first 1000km through Scotland, before being hit by a car near the ferry terminal in Stranraer. After 4 hours in hospital, an X-Ray showed unlike his bike, his shoulder was not broken. He boarded the ferry unsure if he could source a new wheel or be able to ride a bike. He managed both, and grimaced his way through another 1200km to take 5th place.”
Antonino Caldarella @Antonino.Caldarella81 “Waiting for the last START of the year “Il Lombardia 2019″”
Martijn Pols @tijnpols: “The European Track Championships came to The Netherlands last fall, my chance to finally see this great sport live and shoot some nice pics too…”
James York @jamesyorkphoto: “This picture encapsulates what it means to be a cycling fan. Standing in the sun, all day on the side of a remote mountain road. Waiting for hours for a fleeting glimpse of the best riders in the world. It’s a steady build of of anticipation, cars speeding past, police bikes, then the sound of the helicopters before you spot the riders a few switchbacks below. This was 3km from the finish on the Col du Tourmalet, a few minutes later the lead group were passing.”
Wouter Hoogenboom @bicycle.racing.pictures: “After periods of rain, huge puddles of water accumulate at Floyd Bennett Field, a former airfield in Brooklyn that is occasionally used for bicycle racing. For the racers, the water may be nuisance, but for the photographer it is a gift.”
h.a.velopix @h.a.velopix: “Paula Leonhardt wins the junior women’s points race at the German Track National Championships 2019. The Finals Berlin are worth a visit, a variety of different sports celebrate their national finals together at one weekend.”
Daniel Hughes @danielhughesuk: “Road markings, synonymous with the Tour De France. Le Col Du Tourmalet, synonymous with the Tour De France. A moment, A squad… they had to be captured before mother nature erased them into history.”
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.”
Mark Geary @ogaram: “Cool dad! I was out for a bike ride with my son. We stopped for a break. I saw this family group approaching, with one of the adults popping a mono. I had time to get one shot with my iPhone. This is it. Perfect! It is one of my favourite pics of the year. No preparation, no editing, just people enjoying time on their bicycles.”
AJ Moran @ajmoranphotog: “In search of gravel !! early one morning the boys set out on another excellent adventure…On hitting the gravel our first section of gravel we turn left and Im blown away by the magnificent stream of light beaming through the conifers of the Southern Highlands, out came the phone and away I went !!”
Richard Stubbins @richardstubbinscycles: “I have started getting myself up early to ride mornings now that the weather has been getting nicer, and I’ve been riding down to the Stony Point boat ramp a few kilometres from my house to warm up the legs. The sunrise looked amazing so I leaned the bike against the rail, got my iPhone 11 out and the birds started to fly. #timingiseverything”
Matthew Eastwood @pedalmatt: “Thanks to a friend I got a great seat in a bar to watch the Worlds Elite RR, with a big screen behind me I saw all the racing and got the atmosphere whilst staying dry and drinking beer. It was a good day.”
Andrea Verardo @AndreaVerardo: “It has been captured at Eroica 2019 in Gaiole in Chianti , Toscana.”
Phil Hopley @Hoppers_p: “My mate Greg Judin took this wonderful photo that captures the beautiful mornings cyclists in Sydney enjoy at dawn in Centennial park doing laps before work.”
Wouter Hoogenboom @bicycle.racing.pictures: “This photo was taken at Floyd Bennett Field, a former airfield in Brooklyn, New York City, during a local bicycle race. This course is reminiscent of Paris-Roubaix: The roads are particularly rough and the weather conditions, especially the wind, can be harsh. Some of the cracks in the road are so big, my action camera would fit in there completely delivering this unique worm’s-eye view.”
Craig Simons @donwhippet: “My favourite commutes of the week this year have been the ride to kindergarten with my daughter. No matter what the weather was she always wanted to ride and apart from being fun it’s so much better than getting in a car.”
Galen Stilgebauer @lightersideimages: “S is for Super FUN! Colorado cyclocross State Championships, Elite men. What a race!”
Thank you Simon Wilkinson for your insightful choices.
To catchup on all the Showcases visit Mark Gunter Photography. and here to see Chris Auld’s shortlist and Pauline Ballet’s shortlist.
For more information on the #markgunterphotoawards2019 check out CyclingTips.