We’ve now closed off entries to the 2016 Mark Gunter Photographer of the Year awards and what a run it’s been! Nearly 500 entries from 34 countries from some of the best professional and amateur cycling photographers in the world has given us the pleasure to showcase some of their outstanding work and raise money for some worthy causes.
This competition has set out to to honour Mark Gunter and let his name live on through an award that will grow more prestigious each year. The inaugural edition of this competition has exceeded all of our expectations and we thank each and every one of you for your support and entries.
We’ve already published galleries showcasing some of the best photos from week 1 and week 2 and week 3 and week 4 of the competition. You can see below for some of the best entries from week 5, the final week of the competition.
Now what? From here we head straight to the judging process. The first round will have our esteemed judging panel, Graham Watson, Kristof Ramon, and Jered & Ashley Gruber, consider each and every photo and agree on a shortlist for you to see the best of the competition. After that, we will announce the top winners from each category on Monday, January 16. We will also begin the voting for the ‘People’s Choice Award’ where you’ll get to choose the winner.
Prizes
Thanks to BikeStyle Tours, Specialized, Shimano, Bont and Bolle who generously supported this competition with some amazing prizes, the following will be awarded to the winners of each category (more detailed prize info here):
Professional:
1st place: Cycling Photographer of the Year trophy
2nd place: Cycling Photographer of the Year medallion
3rd place: Cycling Photographer of the Year medallion
Iconic Cadel Evans 2011 Tour de France print, taken by Mark Gunter, valued at AUD$500
Money Raised
100% of the money raised through this competition will be donated towards oesophageal cancer research (thanks to Tour de Cure, our donation recipient), young athlete assistance, and into an education trust for Mark and Leeanne’s son Lucas who is two years old.
We will be announcing the donation to the Young Cyclist Assistance on January 31.
Thank you to all for your support and entries, and stay tuned for the judges shortlist and the voting for the People’s Choice Award this week. It’s not over yet!
Thank you to our generous sponsors for their support and prize donations:
Kirsty Baxter, Australia. “Sam Jenner wins 2017 National U23 Men’s Road Race.” DSLR. @kirstybaxter79Ron Olofsson, Sweden. “One of southern Sweden’s hidden gems.” DSLR. @ron_olofssonSimon Wilkinson, United Kingdom. “Slovakia’s Peter Sagan (centre) in action as he goes on to win the Elite Men’s Road Race during the 2016 UCI Road Cycling World Championships in Doha, Qatar.” Professional. @swpix_cyclingJames Deese, United States. “Cyclus Sports’ Michael Gearren going fast in Georgia.” DSLR. @jfdeeseAlex Whitehead, United Kingdom. “The breakaway climb up Cote de Robin Hood’s Bay during Stage 3 of the 2016 Tour de Yorkshire, from Middlesbrough to Scarborough.” Professional. @alex_swpixMatthew Stevenson, United Kingdom. “Riding up towards Rufigio Passo Straulanza for a 100km loop after tackling Passo Giau in July 2016.” Smartphone / Action Cam. @mattwstevenson
Graham Davidson, United Kingdom. “Andrew Tennant on his way to Team Wiggins 1st victory at the Cycle Wiltshire Grand Prix Salisbury – Sunday, 10 May 2015. I followed the race cycling in the opposite direction to spot useful vantage points and this image was taken whilst squatting inside a bush trying to ensure I did not get in the way.” DSLR. @graham8437Michaël Sales, Belgium. “Junior rider casually catching up with the peloton, Borlo (BE).” DSLR. @degroteplaatHans Kolster, Oman. “Richie Porte huffing and puffing as he starts the climb of Cote de Domancy in the Stage 18 time trial from Sallanches to Mégeve, Tour de France 2016. He was awarded the Prix Bernard Hinault for setting the fastest time up the Cote de Domancy.” DSLR.Xisco Fuster Borreguero, United Kingdom. “Fireflies Tour 2016, West Coast, USA. A group of Fireflies are ascending the hills on the coast of California. Battling strong winds, they have a long and grueling way in front of them before arriving at their destination.” Professional. @xiscofusterphotographyAnja Kallenbach, Germany. “The turn taken at Sustenpass Switzerland by ak21photography.” DSLR. @anjakallenbachAdrian Suhaimi, Malaysia. “Tour of Qinghai Lake 2016 – China The colourful prayer flags hanging by the mountains along the descending road.” DSLR. @x4drianhoeMohd Mokhriz Aziz, Malaysia. “The peloton and the farmer shadow at Stage 2 Banyuwangi Tour de Ijen , Indonesia 2016.” Professional. @mokhrizazizEllen Noble, 2017 U.S. U23 national champion. Photo: Wil Matthews.Clint Kimmins, Australia. “Highway 1 Northern California. 200k+ of TT heaven.” Smartphone / Action Cam. @clintkimminsDennis Crane, United States. “Kenny Williams leads the charge to the finish line out of turn 4 at the end of the bell lap for the Elite Men’s Scratch race. Jerry Baker Memorial Velodrome Redmond, WA USA.” DSLR. @dbcphoto_comRosie Kolster, Oman. “Bob Jungels wins the Al Bustan stage, Tour of Oman 2016. We cycling enthusiasts in Oman are immensely lucky that there are few of us, so we get a grandstand view at every stage!” Smartphone / Action Cam.Mikael Fransson, Sweden. “Youth cyclist, Amanda Fransson, Motala AIF CK, just before the start of the GP in Svanesunds 3-days at Orust in Sweden August 26-28th 2016.” DSLR. @micke_teambildJohanna-Marie Seidenbecher, Germany. “In tune with nature” I always wanted to have one of these ‘cyclists in a rapeseed field’-photos like the pro photographers often have. In May 2016, my boyfriend and I spontaneously decided to take some photos of the Thuringian Road Race Championships that was only 10 minutes away from our town – there I got this photo I’m somehow proud of.” DSLR. @ellagingerellaSteffen Schraegle, Germany. “Winter ride.” DSLR. @steffen_schragleTom Hosking, United Kingdom. “The crowd urges on a competitor at the Urban Hill Climb 2016 on Swain’s Lane, London.” DSLR. @tomhoskingStanton Coville, United States. “The best way to start a day – a sunrise ride through the farm land outside New Albany, Ohio. We unfortunately had to go to work after these rides.” Smartphone / Action Cam. @stancovilleAlbert Gallego, Spain. “Close to Girona, you will find the Montseny mountain. There are a thousand secondary roads as in the photo, which you cross under the C-25 motorway, which one crosses Catalonia from east to west.” Professional. @brazodehierroJennifer Bailey, Australia. “Tasmanian Christmas Carnivals – a Devonport Sunset with three riders in the starters hands. Many have called Devonport track the fastest in the country at sunset. The wind drops, the track is hot, and the racing just gets faster and faster.” DSLR. @jennydilstonMichelle Froome, Monaco. “Chris Froome portrait.” DSLR. @michellefroomePatrick Leaman, United States. “Around Reading, Pennsylvania.” Smartphone / Action Cam. @leamanstermsMarek Ogien, Poland. “Sunrise in Sierra Nevada.” Professional. @marekogienPete Talbot, United States. “Feed Zone – No sweeter sight to this group as they crest the KOM at Killington Stage Race.” DSLR. @petethetalbotVincent Kalut, Belgium. “Tour de France 2016 – Stage 9 ANDORRA ARCALIS, ANDORRA – JULY 10 : FROOME Christopher (GBR) Rider of TEAM SKY during stage 9 of the 2016 Tour de France a 184 km stage between Vielha Val d’Aran and Andorre Arcalis, on July 10, 2016 in Andorre Arcalis, Andorra , 10/07/2016.” Professional. @vkalutDaniel Boi, Australia. “Darren Lapthorne (Team Drapac) Ballarat Road Race, Bunniyong. National Cycling Championships 2015.” DSLR. @mrdanielboiPaul Schwartz, Canada. “The 2015 Ellison Park Cyclocross race in Rochester, New York, was extremely hot, dry, humid, and dusty. To get this shot, I jammed myself up against a tree with my wide angle lens, dialled down the exposure to cut the harsh noon sun, and blasted my little on-camera flash to capture this image of Jeremy, the Master, followed closely by Steven Hyde, the Student, hot on his heels. I love the look of fear and concentration as he slid around the sharp, dusty downhill corner.” DSLR. @pss999Andrew Goessling, United States. “Capturing my lovely girlfriend climbing near the top of Mt. Tamalpais in Marin County, California.” DSLR. @a_goesslingChris Wimpey, United States. “Full speed at the velodrome.” DSLR. @chriswimpeyAngus Sung, United Kingdom. “Members of the The 5th Floor descending through the green growth of the infamous, Sa Calobra, Mallora. 2016.” Professional. @angusungArjen Dijkstra, Netherlands. “Catch me if you can. Cycling is often about escaping the pressure and noise of normal life and this picture captures exactly that. On an early winter morning, riding alone, I caught my shadow gliding by on a tree. It gives me a strong rider-feeling. The view is one typical of the Netherlands, the fleeting shadow makes it a typical cycling image.” Smartphone / Action Cam. @afbdijkstraPasquale Stalteri, Canada. “2016 Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal – Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) gets the better of world champion Peter Sagan (Tinkoff).” Professional. @pstalteriJames Nord, United States. “My little brother @dylannord and I were training a few weeks before a modified Everest attempt (which we later completed, 226 miles, 32k of climbing) and we hit Griffin Park just as the sun exhaled it’s final sigh behind LA.” Smartphone / Action Cam.” Smartphone / Action Cam. @jamesnordJaroslav Svoboda, Czech Republic. “Czech international road race “Vyso?ina”, August 5, 2016. The photo was taken from a cold river in czech highlands region in the middle of the second stage of the race.” Professional. @jsphoto.czJay Beauvais, United States. “Three 2015 Gateway Cup, St. Louis, MO, Labor Day weekend. Brad Huff, Rally Cycling, then with Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies, jumps out for a solo breakaway through the technical S-turns of the Benton Park Classic.” DSLR. @jbeauvaisphotoGavin Cooper, United Kingdom. “This year, some friends and I rode up Mont Ventoux on Bastille Day to watch Stage 12 of the Tour. As the race came through I saw a man running up the road towards me, dressed head to toe in yellow, and with no bike. For the first few seconds a thought he was a fan in costume, but only when he was a couple meters away did I realise it was Chris Froome. As he flashed by, everyone did a collective double take and looked at each other, unable to process what had just happened.” DSLR. @gav_gav_gav_gav_gavAdam Lee, Australia. “New Zealand provides such a diversity of landscapes to cycle through, and this spot was one of my favourites. Growing up in hot, dry and barren Perth, I can’t help but seek out lush temperate rainforests like this. I wished I could ride here all day, every day.” DSLR. @endless_cycleMichael Roberts, Australia. “Climbing into the fog on the dirty side of Donna.” Smartphone / Action Cam. @michaelrrrTorri Brumbaugh, United States. “Chadron State College student, Justin Brester spins through Chadron State Park in Nebraska in October.” DSLR. @torrinataliaDan Singer, United States. “”The Pain Cave”….climbing one of the many hills in Hermann Missouri, Gravel Race. Takes place each spring.” DSLR. @dansingerphotographyBob Cullinan, United States. “Light reflects off il Trofeo Senza Fine, the golden trophy of the Giro d’Italia, and illuminates the face of 2016 Giro winner Vincenzo Nibali in Torino.” DSLR. @bobcullinanYee Feng, United States. “Audi Cycling Team member cutting through the late afternoon sunshine at the always-popular Woodland Park GP race.” DSLR. @yftoadJeff Provan, Australia. “Solo rider.” Smartphone / Action Cam. @jaypee1Wouter Hoodenboom, United States. “”The Feedzone” Perfect team visibility, coordination and timing makes this water bottle exchange, in the Women’s 3-4 field during the second stage of the 2016 Killington Stage Race, a success.” Smartphone / Action Cam. @bicycle.racing.picturesValentin Baat, Sweden. “captured during one of the bigger pro races in sweden, close to the norwegian border. here is a rider that was alone between groups trying to catch up downhill.” DSLR. @baatphoto
