It’s been a week since we launched the Mark Gunter photographer of the year awards and the support has been overwhelming. There have been some outstanding entries from all over the world with photographs from esteemed professionals such as Michael Klein, Yuzuru Sunada, Jeff Curtes, Andy Bokanev and many more.
The DSLR and smartphone / action cam categories have had some amazing entries as well with some fantastic prizes to be won including a Specialized Allez bike, a Shimano Di2 groupset, and a trip to the Tour de France with BikeStyle Tours.
In the first week’s gallery we have selected some of the highlights to showcase to you to encourage more entries and to inspire. There are too many to feasibly show to you here, but all entries will be considered by our judges Graham Watson, Kristof Ramon and Ashley & Jered Gruber.
For those of you just finding out about the competition, you can see all of the information, rules and prizes here.
Thanks to our generous sponsors for their support and prize donations:
Joris Knapen, Netherlands. “Cyclist Julian alaphilippe, from the Etixx-Quickstep team, chrashed hard in the desent, during the time-trail. Due to the hard wind he could not manage to keep control of his bike. Miraculously he did not have any mayor injury, and could finish the stage as well the TDF.” Professional. Instagram: @jorisknapen_studioknapenAndy Bokanev, United States. “Peter Sagan just 300 meters away from earning his first Rainbow stripes in Richmond, VA.” Professional. Instagram: @bokanevSean Hardy, United Kingdom. “His last Roubaix. This was my first experience shooting Pro Cyclists and one I will never forget. Hero upon hero fall to the ground around me – they leave it all on the road and return with nothing. Grasping for air and desperately gulping at small cans of coke for a sugar fix.” Professional. Instagram: @hardyccphotos“Conor Dunne of JLT Condor makes his way through the resilient crowd that gathered at the top of a very cold and wet Kirkstone Pass, otherwise known as ‘The Struggle’.” Professional. Instagram: @angussungMaheux Thomas, France. “This photo was taken at Criterium du Dauphine 2016, I like this image for this amazing landscape and the moment of the race, with the racer in full effort.” Professional. Instagram: @thomas_maheuxKhue Cai, United States. “A crowd waits for a fixed-gear crit under the lights. Taken at the 6th Street Bridge in downtown Los Angeles, December 2014.” DSLR. Instagram: @khuecaiConstantin Gerlach, Germany. “Chasing the sun up Montserrat.” DSLR. Instagram: @der_gerlacherMatt Clark, Canada. “Finding clear roads in the ski town of Whistler, BC is a challenge in the dead of Winter, but when you do it is worth the time to taken to search for it.” Professional. Instagram: @stirlandraephotoNatalie Starr, United States. “Wade and Amanda in Colorado aspen trees. We went on a quick jaunt up into the mountains to catch golden hour in the golden trees. Location: Kenosha Pass, Colorado.” DSLR. @natalierstarrGert-jan Warrink, Netherlands. “Chad Haga looks up during his cool down after stage 1 of the 2016 Eneco Tour.” DSLR. Instagram: @gwarrinkJeff Curtes, Australia. “Maap Winter 16, Bernina Pass, Italy, April 2016.” Professional. Instagram: @jeffcurtesScott Mooney, Australia. “Jack Bobridge after finishing three ascents of Arthurs Seat during the 2015 Herald Sun Tour.” DSLR. Instagram: @scottmooneyphotoHugh McManus, United Kingdom. “Round like a circle in a spiral, like a wheel within a wheel: Warming UP – Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic.” DSLR. Instagram: @hughmcmanus8Hugh McManus, United Kingdom. “Tight Lines – Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic.” Smartphone / Action Cam. Instagram: @hughmcmanus8David Morgan, United Kingdom. “Richie Porte at Full Gas – Tour De France 2016 Ardeche Time Trial.” DSLR. Instagram: @djm.morganTheo Southee, United Kingdom. “Time trials – Tour of Britain 2016.” Professional. Instagram: @Theosouthee_photographyAndries Reitsma, Netherlands. “Early morning commute, 30th november 2016 Groningen – Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.” Smartphone / Action Cam. Instagram: @andriesreitsmaChris Auld, United Kingdom. “This shot, at UCI Doha 2016 of the Elite mens TT was captured through self preservation rather than choice, after being dropped in the desert and told that id be picked up in three hours, the only shade for miles around was this motorway bridge, where I took cover from the searing heat, as luck would have it a beautiful shaft of light came between the two carriageways enabling me to capture Team Rwanda’s Bonaventure Uwizeyimana.” Professional. Instagram: @cauldphotoSzymon Kotowski, Poland. “yolomites.” Smartphone / Action Cam. Instagram: @szymonbikeMatthew Bailey, United Kingdom. “Lennon & McCartney at Six Day London.” DSLR. Instagram: @conquistaccWill Davies, France. “Above the Clouds. Mont Blanc view from atop Mont Salève – Haute Savoie, France.” DSLR. Instagram: @cyclingalpsLuis Alcantarila, United Kingdom. “Wandering around the pits at the TDF TT I bailed on Sagan warming up because it was too busy and there was no room between the Tinkoff bus and the pavement and opted for the TT start house. I left just before Sagan arrived when it was empty, when I quickly ran back it was 5 deep to the barriers as he started! ‘Photo Sagan’.” DSLR. Instagram: @LuAl22Wim Van der Veken, Belgium. “We will certainly miss Thomas Voeckler in the peloton next year, he stops after the tour de france 2017.” DSLR. Instagram: @vandervekenwimCarlos Furnari, Australia. “‘Prologue Down Under’ A perfectly imperfect series that perfectly captures the essence of Prologue racing — Tour Down Under, Melbourne 2016.” Smartphone / Action Cam. Instagram: @carlosfurnariShaun Timberlake, Australia. “Taken at the 2016 Herald Sun Tour during a long recovery from spinal surgery, between stints of laying on my back on the edges of the Yarra to relieve pain. One of only two images to survive a hard drive failure. Kept on my phone to remind me how important it is to appreciate the things we enjoy, especially when poor health or injury prevents us from doing them. Not to take anything for granted when healthy. A visual metaphor of sorts.” DSLR. Instagram: @shauntphotoGalen Stilgebauer, United States. “Light streaming, body steaming.” DSLR. Instagram: @Galen1973Adnan Adrian Goh, Malaysia. “Curves of the Pordoi.” Smartphone / Action Cam. Instagram: @passioniciclismoStephen Rutledge, Australia. “Bridie O’Donnell, Northern Combine iTT, Balliang Victoria. This image was shot at the end of Autumn on a cold, wet and windy day. I felt lucky the rain had stopped for a brief period, allowing me to catch Bridie as she came through. I was lucky I shot her at all – as I was busy looking at previews on my camera and almost missed the moment. Shooting such a great athlete like Bridie – half your job is done for you.” DSLR. Instagram: @stephenrutledgeJojo Harper, United Kingdom. “James Oram of ONE Pro cycling gathering his thoughts before stage 2 of this years Tour De Pologne.” Professional. Instagram: @jojoharperphotoWessel van Keuk, Netherlands. “On this photo Enrico Gasparotto wins the Amstel Gold Race. He honors his recently deceased teammate Antoine Demoitié. The beauty of art and photography is that you can give your own interpretation to the picture. When I look at of this image then I think of my good friend and colleague Mark!” Professional.Gareth Quinn, United Kingdom. “Giro TTT.” DSLR. Instagram: @gquinnx1Pete Burr, United States. “I often think the Arizona desert is overlooked as one of the premiere cycling landscapes. South Mountain park is only 7 miles from downtown Phoenix.” DSLR. Instagram: @pete_burrJohn Holderness, United States. “Ben Gomez Villafane (CycleSport – Specialized) hits the sandpit on lap one of Sunday’s UCI Junior Men’s race at CXLA.” DSLR. Instagram: @cyclingnutzJean-Pierre Ronco, Australia. “This image has been shoot during the Tour of Bright 2016 at Mt Hotham – Victoria – Australia the 4th of December 2016. In this image, I like the determination and the courage on the rider climbing Australian hight mountains (highest seal road in Australia). the riders are the real heroes of this crazy sport.” Professional.Stephen Chan, Australia. “Climbing Passo Pordoi before the Giro peloton the next day.” Smartphone / Action Cam. Instagram: @dr_takaGareth Winter, United Kingdom. “Sir Bradley Wiggins – The Heat of the moment Track World Championships 2016. Hidden under the infield at Lee Valley Velodrome, Sir Bradley Wiggins and the Pursuiters warm up for the TP Semi Final. Photographed with a Yashica Mat TLR camera, on 120mm Kodak Portra 400 film.” Professional. Instagram: @garethwinterTroy Upfield, Australia. “Caleb Ewan and Chris Froome – Herald Sun Tour 2016.” DSLR. Instagram: @dogboxproTony Reeckman, Australia. “Photo taken with a DJI Phantom during Stage 4 of the 2016 Sam Miranda Tour of the King Valley men’s NRS race.” Smartphone / Action Cam. Instagram: @tonyreeckmanPhil Dunne, Australia. “That View – Phil Gray from MWCC climbing through the spring meadows in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Views like this lift you up.” Smartphone / Action Cam. Instagram: @theroadwellriddenBrett Rothmeyer, United States. “First UCI race of the season in Rochester, NY.” DSLR. Instagram: @brettrothmeyerTim O’Connor, Canada. “Timothy Rugg (Ride with Rendall p/b Biemme) cools down in the team van after finishing a scorching 2016 Reading 120 in Reading, Pennsylvania.” Smartphone / Action Cam. Instagram: @BaconweasalNic Stevenson, United Kingdom. “The four sprinters all lunge for the line at Six Day London 2015. Shot with a Canon 500d DSLR and 70-300 f4 lens.” DSLR. Instagram: @nicjstevensonOwen Geach, Australia. “Stage 1 of the Herald Sun Tour 2015. The ridders negotiate the tight technical course at lightning speed.” DSLR. Instagram: @donkeytakeypictureNick Woods, Australia. “Explore new roads – China.” DSLR. Instagram: @newoodsNick Woods, Australia. “Its easy enough to take photos these days, the real challenge is capturing moments. These kids from Indonesia were beyond stoked to be riding around with the cyclist before the start of this years Tour de Flores.” Smartphone /Action Cam. Instagram: @newoodsIan Nguyen, Australia. “My friend called me to come support him ride Letape Australia in memory of his late friend Mark Gunter, so I made a last minute decision to come down and ride as his domestique. It ended up being an unreal experience not only to support my friend and Leanne but I was given the opportunity to ride alongside Chris Froome and he graciously accepted to take a selfie with me. Sometimes the best things in life happen last minute and to ride for others…In memory of Mark.” Smartphone / Action Cam. Instagram: @ironian07Clive Roper, Australia. “The Stan Siejka Classic is held in Launceston each December and a course change in 2015 had the cyclist climbing “ the wall” a short 16 percent lung buster on each lap. Madeleine Fasnacht showing great promise as a junior in her series race against the Elite Women.” DSLR. Instagram: @camerawilltravelEugene Kim, United States. “Vasil Kiryienka, Stage 6 TT Warmup, 2016 Amgen Tour of California. Photographed on Kodak Portra 400 with a Hasselblad 501CM.” DSLR. Instagram: @yourjeansoneugeneYuzuru Sunada, Japan. “15 March 2015 50th Tirreno – Adriatico Stage 05 : Esanatoglia – Terminillo 1st : QUINTANA Nairo Alexander (COL) Movistar, in the heavy snow.” Professional. Instagram: @sunadayuzuruLouise Wolfers, Australia. “Skid Master Paul VDP Essendon Fields CX Race 2016.” DSLR. Instagram: @LouWolfersMichael Klein, Australia. “Elchin Asadov of the Synergy Baku Cycling project team gives it his all as he powers towards the finish line along Southbank Promenade, Melbourne in the opening stage of the 2015 Herald Sun Tour.” Professional. Instagram: @kleinyheraldsunEamon Fitzpatrick, Australia. “Jacobs Ladder, Tasmania.” DSLR. Instagram: @procycleimagesPenny Tuffin, Australia. “A blip on the Giant of Provence First climb towards Club des Cingles membership.” DSLR. Instagram: @penny_tuffinJack Chevell, United Kingdom. “Chris Froome really cemented his Tour de France lead in the Megève Time Trial. He was clearly faster than his competition when he came through as the final rider on the road, electrifying everyone there to witness it.” Professional. Instagram: @jackchevellSean Heagney, Australia. “The ribbon of gravel threading its way through the canola fields of the Riverina region of New South Wales with a small group of riders pushing themselves to rise to the challenge of the Rapha Dirty 130.” Smartphone / Action Cam. Instagram: @heagsSimon Gill, United Kingdom. “2016 Ghent 6 Days. Sir Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain in action during the third day of racing at the t’Kuipke Track Velodrome. I wanted to capture an unusual image of Bradley Wiggins during what was supposed to be his last ever race. It took a few attempts at panning to capture this.” Professional. Instagram: @simongillphotoJacco Quist, Netherlands. “Typical Dutch picture shot a local race: sun, wind, clouds and racers.” DSLR. Instagram: @jacco.quistKevin Batchelor, United States. “Teamwork makes the dream work.” Professional. Instagram: @kevinscottbatchelorKevin Anderson, Australia. “2015 International Track Championships – Adelaide Superdrome. World Omnium Champ – Nettie Edmondson.” DSLR. Instagram: @chameleon.photoBob Barrett, Australia. “Galston Gorge, winter mornings.” DSLR. Instagram: @bobbarrettphotosPaul Dowker, United Kingdom. “Lincoln Grand Prix 2016. The struggle of Michaelgate, Lap 1.” DSLR. Instagram: @pauldowker
Kenji Muto Quiroz, Japan. “The Victory. MAAP/Speedvagen rider Garry Millburn winning the Rapha Nobeyama Super Cross 2016 in Japan.” DSLR. Instagram: @kenjimuto
