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Feature image: John Braynard | 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.
“I felt honoured to be part of Mark Gunter Photo Awards 2019 and be a photography contest judge for the first time. It is very exciting to discover new photographers or see again amazing cycling pics and remember all the crazy season shared with so talented people.
Doing editing for contests, books or exhibitions is something I love to work on, so I really enjoyed choosing my favourite 2019 pics from more than 1200 images, and I took this role very seriously.
My process was to select pictures for their photography composition/light, emotion or originality. More than 10 pictures most often have these qualities and sometimes it was hard to take some away; but to sum up I’ll say that the pics in my selection are the ones which immediately caught my eye without thinking of anything else, or pictures I definitely wish I could have taken if I was there.
Congratulations and many thanks to every photographer and participant for these cycling photography moments.”
Pauline is a freelance photographer based in Paris, although you’ll see her more around the world than at home! Pauline currently photographs many World Tour events for the ASO including Tour de France, Roland Garros, Paris-Roubaix, and recently the Skoda Shanghai Criterium.
Pauline placed second overall in the 2019 Mark Gunter Photographer of the Year Awards – Professional category.
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.’
Michal Cerveny @michalcervenyphoto: “An athlete during the UCI Cyclocross World Cup race in Tábor, Czech Republic.”
Nathan Godwin @nathangodwin: “The coastline along Kangaroo Island is incredible. One minute you are riding on a road next to scrub, climbing small hills with lakes on either side. Then you reach the coast and there is clear blue water and incredible red dirt roads.”
Jordan Benjamin-Sutton @peloton_perspective: “Mads Pedersen is surrounded by the media after claiming victory in the 2019 World Championships in Harrogate.”
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.”
Daghan Perker @dperker: “Caroline Mani gives everything and collapses at the finish line after a hard and muddy race at Trek CX Cup.”
Joris Knapen @jorisknapen_studioknapen: “TDF 2019, stage 19, Col de l’Iseran. In the back of the peloton, riders are struggling to get over the Col de l’Iseran. All I can think is; what a view.”
Francesco Rachello @strict: “Passo San Boldo is a small iconic climb because of its 18 switchbacks. But what makes it so unique are the spectators lined up everywhere during Giro stages like the 2019 one. Getting the shot required some climbing skills and disregard for heights.”
Dario Belingheri @dariobelingheri: “Looking for this light in other previous races but just found only at Gran Piemonte 2019, the shadows of the riders perfectly in a row…”
John Braynard @jbraynard: “I am so lucky to live just in arms reach of the mountains. This was a dead end road just off a popular route I ride. Sometimes the way goes to nowhere, but is still worth it.”
Rupert Hartley @ruperthartleyphoto: “Toni Calderon rides through the Dark Hedges in Northern Ireland during the Pan Celtic Race. This photo was the middle of the afternoon in July, but a huge thunder storm had rolled in to send the tourist crowds running for cover, and set the dark scene for Toni to ride through shortly afterwards. I don’t think he appreciated it much though, given the days of constant rain they had endured.”
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.”
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?”
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.”
h.a.velopix @h.a.velopix: “Wout Van Aert after Paris-Roubaix 2019, comforted by his teammates. We love this image because of the compassion it carries.”
Miguel Ena @enasanjuan: “Rain and photography are good allies. David González’s personal battle against Itzulia 2019. Caja’s neoprofessional rider managed to finish it.”
Alan Gibworth @gibworthphoto: “Out of the shadows. Annemiek van Vlueten emerges to claim the longest solo victory of the World Championships. On a rare fine day in Yorkshire the Dutch team proved to be unstoppable, with van Vlueten attacking over 100km from the finish and none of her competitors coming close to catching her. A rider that had often helped teammates to victory in major championships, and who had tragically missed out on becoming Olympic Champion in 2016, finally had her well-deserved day in the sun.”
Marco Loman @lomanmarco: “Marta Bastianelli – Team Virtu Cycling, winner of the Ronde van Drenthe 2019, UCI Women’s World Tour 2019. The race was cold, hard, windy and muddy. This is Marta right after the finish.”
Iqbal Mansor @gibberishrubbish: “In between the lines this panning shot i took of a cyclist during Cycling Selangor Criterium race.”
Galen Stilgebauer @lightersideimages: “S is for Super FUN! Colorado cyclocross State Championships, Elite men. What a race!”
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.”
Rasmus Pellizotti @traedekongen: “Last effort before the hotel in Bilbao after a long day in the saddle.”
Bizzy Butterworth @bizzyb70: “‘Winter Magic’ We were on a gravel ride up in Red Hill in a really cold but clear winter’s day and had to use the main road to get between a couple of sections of the track. As we came out onto the road the light coming through the trees see was just so surreal it took my breath away.”
Michael Monaghan @michaeljmon: “Michael was on my @eurocyclingtrips tour from Canberra to Melbourne. We were about 60km out of Canberra towards Adaminaby, and a storm was looming, However for a short period the Sun was shining directly behind us which provided the perfect light for this incredible shot.”
Tim McInnes @timmymcinny: “Taken at sunrise in Siena on the Tuscany Trail in June this year, a 600km off-road event across stunning and varied terrain. We went to the square to grab breakfast but everywhere was closed, and as Chris rode across the paving the light was perfect and I whipped my iPhone out of my pocket and did the best I could. I was fairly happy with the result 😉.”
Rasmus Pellizotti @traedekongen: “We were riding long days in the Pyrenees getting into the clouds…”
Galen Stilgebauer @lightersideimages: “There are many famous and mythological climbs in Europe. This is not one of them. It could be.”
Mark Geary @ogaram: “Zachary Marshall and Daniel Gandy do a sling at the recent Australian Madison Champs. My GoPro was on the bike of Jensen Plowright at the Australian Madison Champs. This race is like no other – riders take turns to race and sling the new rider into race pace.”
Thank you Pauline Ballet for your insightful choices.
To catchup on all the Showcases visit Mark Gunter Photography. and here to see Chris Auld’s shortlist and Simon Wilkinson’s shortlist.
For more information on the #markgunterphotoawards2019 check out CyclingTips.