2023 MARK GUNTER PHOTO AWARDS — WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT
The Winners of the 2023 Mark Gunter Photo Awards are here!
In our 8th year, the photos entered have been Impressive. Thrilling. Exhilarating. Moving. Emotive. Thought provoking. And more.
We’ve received an incredibly diverse range of photos from all over the world, from passionate enthusiasts and pro photographers. Our 2023 entrants are from over 30 countries across almost all the continents — including Austria, Colombia, Czech Republic, UK, Switzerland, Slovakia, Mexico, US, Singapore and Canada — just to name a handful.
The Awards showcase the work of talented photographers and inspire us all to capture moments that mean something, to the photographer and the audience.
2023 has been ‘next level’ in quality, and such a joy to be witness to all of the images entered. We’ve seen so many aspects of cycling images, and it’s been a honour, as always to read every single caption telling hundreds of cycling stories, from all over the world.
I’ve discovered from talking to photographers, that it’s now considered the most prestigious photo competition in the industry. I’m so proud to be a part of these awards — for the photographers, the community, and especially for my son Lucas.
And of course — we’ve raised money for cancer research via Tour de Cure and still plan to support young cyclists.
We are proud to showcase the winners here, their images, and the story behind their image — and everyone who made the top 10 in both categories.
A huge thank you to our diverse and highly regarded judges for their time and their consideration and expertise in selecting the winners. It’s a hugely important role, and I’m grateful to them all for being a part of the awards this year — Russ Ellis, Gem Atkinson, Rupert Hartley, Alex Broadway, Jeff Curtes, and Bram Berkien.
Thanks to Wahoo Fitness for the first prize in the Amateur category. It’s the icing on the “bike” for our winner in the Amateur category.
Thanks to Punchbuggy for every year making it happen behind the scenes — year after year.
Thanks to Escape Collective for returning to support the 2023 Mark Gunter Photo Year Awards, it’s very special for me to able to keep Mark’s legacy alive for Lucas, who’s now 9 and has successfully chosen his very own list.
The wait is over…. here are the winners and your top ten in each category! Congratulations to you all.
PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY
Joint 1st Prize Professional category: Pauline Ballet (France)
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Tour de France, July 18, stage 16, Jonas Vingegaard smashed the Tour de France with a stratospheric time during the ITT. Just after the stage, behind the signature podium Tadej Pogačar stayed in his thoughts and his disappointment while the winner of the stage signs the yellow jerseys.
Photo by Pauline Ballet @paulineballet
Joint 1st Prize Professional category: Harry Talbot (New Zealand)
Tom Pidcock entering Siena solo to win Strade Bianche. I could talk for hours about the beauty of Siena and the way the evening light falls into the streets with an orange hue and long shadows. I knew I wanted a dramatic shot of my favourite race, showing the light, the fans, the winner in all its glory.
Photo by Harry Talbot @visualsofharry
3rd Prize Professional category: Gaëtan Flamme (France)
If Wallers Arenberg is known for Paris Roubaix, an amateur nighttime cyclocross takes place on this legendary site. The opportunity to have fun with light… Here Eddy Lefebvre, French amateur champion in a tunnel on the circuit.
Photo by Gaëtan Flamme @sportpic_agency
4th Prize Professional category: Sean Hardy (UK)
This was taken at the Tour de France Femmes, Lizzie Deignan first time since having kids. This was taken about 2km from the finish, where fans gathered to cheer everyone. The atmosphere was just so special.
Photo by Sean Hardy @hardyccphotos
5th Prize Professional category: Anouk Flesch (Luxembourg)
Paris-Roubaix Femmes 2023. 3rd women’s edition of a race created in 1896. The captivating detail of a leg covered in mud that testifies to the silent difficulty of the event. At the intersection of the brutality of the sport and human vulnerability, this photo celebrates the triumph of women in cycling.
Photo by @anoukflesch
6th Prize Professional category: Michal Cerveny (Czech Republic)
Arrivederci. Brazilian mountain biker crashes during the UCI Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Cup in Val di Sole, Italy.
Photo by Michal Cerveny @michalcervenyphoto
7th Prize Professional category: Paolo Penni Martelli (Italy)
As part of my job as a photographer, exploring is one of the main reasons for a early wake up every morning. To explore not only means to travel to new places, but also to try to see places from other points of view. In this case we were crossing (and exploring) our own country (Italy), Puglia, the heel of it. As soon as I saw this salt pans, I imagined cyclists crossing the thin border, reflecting on colors.
Photo by Paolo Penni Martelli @paolopennimartelli
8th Prize Professional category: Pauline Ballet (France)
Tour de France, stage two and the warm welcome of the Basque country at the start of the stage to Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Photo by Pauline Ballet @paulineballet
I’ve been following women’s cycling for 8 years now and for me this picture shows just how far the sport has come compared to what I’ve experienced. For me, this photo of Demi Vollering, who has just won her 1st Tour de France, surrounded by photographers/media, shows the scale of this event and the extent to which women’s sport has grown.
Photo by Thomas Maheux @thomas_maheux
10th Prize Professional category: Matt Grayson (UK)
Rwandan cyclist Eric Nduwayo tackles heavy rains at the Race Around Rwanda, Rwanda’s only ultra-endurance race. Storms had been rolling in overnight when I reached this gravel section at dawn. Minutes later, Eric came up the hill navigating the rutted marks left by the trucks, whilst avoiding the herd of cattle crossing. Eric and five other Rwandans raced as part of the Rwanda Beyond project, which helps the riders to build on their careers beyond cycling, and inspiring them to stay in school.
Photo by Matt Grayson @mattgrayson_photo
1st Prize Amateur category: Carlo Anzolin (Italy)
Golden hour at the Traka. I spent some quite time here, taking a lot of photos and changing my camera settings. I’m happy with how this one turned out.
Photo by Carlo Anzolin @arlo_anz
2nd Prize Amateur category: Emanuele Baracco (Italy)
Morning at Col de Galibier – One of the most famous mountain passes for cycling enthusiasts. At sunrise, on a morning among the hottest days of summer 2023, hundreds of cyclist decide to climb the slopes of this mountain crossing lines of light created by the rising sun.
Photo by Emanuele Baracco @emanuele_baracco
3rd Prize Amateur category: Saskia Martin (UK)
If a face could tell a tale of 4000km. Christian bellowing in the dead of night, after waiting for friends that didn’t exists and being chased by wild dogs.
Photo by Saskia Martin @saskiacmartin
4th Prize Amateur category: Angelo Giangregorio (Italy)
This is from Il Lombardia 2023, the last race of Thibaut Pinot before retiring. As for the Tour the France the Collectif Ultras Pinot arranged the ‘Virage Pinot’ on the last climb of the race, a place full of ‘tifosi’. With my dear friend Francesco we thought it was the most interesting spot and we stayed there for a long time. These photos are some of the results of that beautiful day. Suffice to say that Pinot had to stop there as the ultras were uncontainable.
Photo by Angelo Giangregorio @pedaleforchetta
5th Prize Amateur category: Mat Gilfedder (Australia)
Anna Meares Velodrome in Brisbane is a great-looking venue. Alessia heads for start line in the Elite Women Team Sprint at the Australian National Track Championships.
Photo by Mat Gilfedder @matgilfedder
6th Prize Amateur category: Tomasz Śmietana (Poland)
Martin Vidaurre during MTB World Cup in Leogang Austria (Short track)
Photo by Tomasz Śmietana @smietana_tomasz_photo
7th Prize Amateur category: Aritz Arambarri Goenaga (Spain)
Esta foto fue tomada en una carrera local de la población de Oñati en Guipúzcoa en la categoría sub23. El corredor de la imagen es de Oñati y ademas se despedia ee la competicion en esa carrera y seve la emocion que tiene y como lo celebra junto a sus amigos. [Original]
This photo is taken on a local road Oñati, Gipuzkoa in the Under 23’s. It shows the the competition on the road and shows he emotion that you hold @unaaiii_5 and how famous you are with us friends. [Translation]
Photo by Aritz Arambarri Goenaga @ziklix_photo
8th Prize Amateur category: Jude Bytheway (UK)
High Flyer A Glasgwegian seagull somewhat taken by surprise to come across Declan Brooks executing a backflip tuck no hander. This was just one of the incredible performances by BMX riders competing at the UCI World Championships. The rain held off just about long enough for the birds and bikes to get out and do their thing.
Photo by Jude Bytheway @cyclingbytheway
9th Prize Amateur category: Andrew Field (UK)
British Cycling Cyclo-Cross National Championships 2023 held at the Westmorland Showground Cumbria. Heavy rain had turned the lower section of the course into a mudfest, some riders could not ride the water earlier in the weekend due to the depth. The final race of the weekend was the men’s national championships and the section became just rideable.
Photo by Andrew Field @andrew_field_photography
10th Prize Amateur category: Emily Alexander (US)
Seeing Rainbows Pauline Ferrand-Prevot being cheered on by two young fans while dominantly riding away for her third straight XC Mountain Bike World Championship.
Photo by Emily Alexander @eealxndr
Thank you to all of our judges for your insightful choices.
For more information on the #markgunterphotoawards2023 check out Escape Collective