Feature image: Eloise Mavian | other photography as credited
It’s hard to believe that another year — our seventh year — of the Mark Gunter Photographer of the Year Awards are coming to the end. Before we get there though — the exciting part is upon us.
Our five judges are right now perusing the professional and amateur galleries, to form their long lists and ultimately their top 10’s in both categories. Then they’ll come together to make the ultimate decision — to award the Mark Gunter Photographer of the Year 2022 in both the Professional and Amateur categories.
Our first shortlist is ready — from James Startt. Look out for the other judges shortlists coming soon.
Final winners to be announced on 25th January, 2023.
Enjoy James’ top 10s!
Cover image by Eloise Mavian @eloisemavian “Jonas Vingegaard struggling on the last meters of the 20th stage of the Tour de France. It was a very long warm day in Rocamadour, so it was a joy to find this escape from the sun. A very nice fresh tunnel with rocks (I love rocks) and dramatic light.“
James Startt’s experience as a cycling photographer and now in his fourth decade — having photographed every Tour de France since 1990, he’s seen a lot.
James won the Gold Medal in the 2021 World Sports Photography Awards, has had his images published in countless well known cycling publications, including Peleton magazine, Velonews, Agence Zoom, and he is now part of the Rouleur team. Welcome back to the judging panel James.
“Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard shares a quiet and intimate moment with his partner Trine Marie Hansen on the Champs Élisées in Paris just after the final stage of the 2022 Tour de France. After three weeks of racing, the Team Jumbo-Visma rider secured the overall victory of the most prestigious cycling race in the world. This photo was shot just before the podium ceremony, in a backstage area.” Bram Berkien @bramberkien
“Yellow is the ‘happy colour’, right? This aerial shot taken at Backroads Gravel Race in Australia’s wheatbelt makes me smile. This image has a group of riders covering the brightest coloured landscape of all races I’ve photographed. The canola fields were in full bloom and riders were crossing wide expanses of what looked like hand-painted canvases.” Daniela Tommasi @daniela_tommasi_photography
“”During the hottest day of the year in Belgium, the queen stage of the Baloise Belgium Tour took place. Riders arrived completely overheated. And barely tried to refresh themselves with some ice cold water.” Mats Palinckx @matspalinckx
“This photo was made at Tour de France when Wout Van Aert brutally attacked and won the stage. He came to the finish line alone and I took this photo. I used a fisheye lens to capture both the road and the fans at the arena.” Alen Milavec @alenmilavec
“Michel Hessmann (Jumbo-Visma) waiting to receive the yellow jersey at the Tour de l’Avenir after Germany won the TTT by two seconds over Belgium. He finished third of the Tour, behind Cian Uijtdebroeks (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Johannes Staune-Mittet (Jumbo-Visma).” Anouk Flesch @anoukflesch
“The peloton rides during Stage 4 of the 2022 Saudi Tour.” Alex Broadway @_alexbroadway_
“I was in middle of a yellow flowers’ field; I saw this point at the last minute from the moto and I ran there cause the peloton was arriving very fast….I hadn’t the time to check if there was a better position but at the end the result was not bad.” Dario Belingheri @dariobelingheri
“Jonas Vingegaard struggling on the last meters of the 20th stage of the Tour de France. It was a very long warm day in Rocamadour, so it was a joy to find this escape from the sun. A very nice fresh tunnel with rocks (I love rocks) and dramatic light.” Eloise Mavian @eloisemavian
“The moment the stadium roared and the roof came off! as Emma Hinze beat Mathilde Gros in the third all or nothing round of the women’s sprint, bringing Hinze her third gold medal of the European championships in Munich.” Lewis Allan @lewisallanphotography
“On The Rivet! A punchy run up at the inaugural cyclocross race put on by Thrashers BC in Coquitlam.” Mark @markuzii
“Friday night crits under lights out at Ipswich Cycle Park, on a clear moonlit night.” Mat Gilfedder @matgilfedder
“I think there is no picture that means that much to me as this one. It was my first shot after a difficult period. It reminds me that, even if there is damage, even it’s hard, try to carry it with you. Keep pushing – at your pace – and try to make the best of it. I love the focus on the bright blue damaged wall, the contrast with the racers pushing their limits and how the second cyclist fits perfectly in the damaged wall.” Suzan Debuysere @suzandbsr
“The bicycle is a true symbol of defiance. Empty streets, sandbags, air-raid alarms, anti tank hedgehogs – our reality now. For those who volunteer or came back from the front, cycling is a great way to relax mentally and physically. In many regions of Ukraine, bicycles have become the main means of transport.” [Dmitriy from Odesa, Ukraine in Aug].” Iurii Makalis @makalisiurii
“Gravel racing in the mid-west. Pella-Roubaix. 100k of gravel, hills and wind in southern Iowa. The flags were flying straight out all day. Is this heaven? No, it’s Iowa.” Jeff Corcoran @corcoransphotos
“At the last minute of 2022, the Belgian beach race championships provided some great photos. Beach racing is a wonderful concept. Road cycling’s biggest champions will compete against absolute amateurs. Truly anyone can take part. There is no sport where you get so close to these champions. You literally bump into them on the beach. This picture shows riders like Jasper Philipsen, Yves Lampaert, Tim Merlier & Tim Declercq. I don’t have enough characters to list their record of just last season.” Stijn Bastens @stijn_bastens
“Every year in Colorado there is a 28-mile bicycle race to the summit of Mount Evans, a 14,271-foot (4,350 m) peak approximately 30 miles west of Denver. It is a world-renowned climb, that uses the Mount Evans byway, the highest paved road in North America. On a clear day, riders can see more than 100 miles in any direction, but there ever present danger of clouds and storms rolling in. So it was on July 23, 2022, as these two riders cycled the final switchbacks to the top.” Reid Neureiter @reidnewphoto
“A single breakaway rider hits the remaining patch of light during the Dockside Criterium in Port Adelaide, South Australia. A hot day out in 30+ degrees in an old industrial area but one of the most rewarding for the unique images that came out.” Hayden Archibald @turn8photo
“Golden light for the golden bell Low summer sun catching the bell during Friday Night Racing at Jerry Baker Memorial Velodrome.” Emily Alexander @eealxndr
Thank you James Startt for your insightful choices.
To catchup on all the Showcases visit Mark Gunter Photography. Look out for the other shortlists coming soon!
For more information on the #markgunterphotoawards2022 check out Rouleur.