2018 Mark Gunter Photographer of the Year Awards: the highlights so far
For the third year running, CyclingTips is thrilled to be a part of the Mark Gunter Photographer of the Year Awards.
Established in the memory of Mark Gunter, a much-loved Australian cycling photographer who passed away of oesophageal cancer in late 2015, the awards are a way of commemorating Mark’s contribution to the community and to showcase the best cycling photographs of each year. In the spirit of the competition, entry fees go to a great cause, supporting the cancer charity Tour de Cure, and Young Cyclist Assistance.
The inaugural edition was an incredible success, and the 2017 edition only built on that legacy, showcasing some truly jawdropping images.
For 2018, we’ve introduced one major change: in addition to the existing categories of Professional, Enthusiast, and Smartphone/Action Cam, we’ve added the category of Proudest Cycling Moment – a category judged more on the story than the image, allowing entrants to showcase a moment of particular significance to them.
The competition closes on January 3rd, 2019, at which point our judges – Graham Watson, Russ Ellis, and Wouter Roosenboom – will deliberate on who’ll take out the honours.
The 2018 awards opened at the start of December, and already, we’ve seen some amazing shots come through. This showcase highlights just some of this year’s best images from the first half of the competition – we hope you’ll enjoy them.
You can keep track on images being entered via our Instagram feed and the hashtag #markgunterphotoawards2018. We also welcome donations to our charity partners, and of course, encourage entrants to the competition!
Professional category
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- Mikkel Groth @Mikkel_Groth: “The legendary climb, Passo Dello Stelvio.”
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- Julien Payette-Tessier @payette: “Biggest fans”
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- Roberto Bettini @sprintcycling: “At the end of a tremendous physical effort.”
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- Simon Gill @simongillphoto: 2018 Tour De France Stage 12 Bourg-Saint-Maurice Les Arcs to Alpe d’Huez. Chris Froome in pursuit of Geraint Thomas around Dutch Corner.
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- Jojo Harper @jojoharperphotos: Eddy Merckx checking his watch backstage at this years Rouleur Classic bike show.
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- Gary Main @garymainphotographer: “KASIA NIEWIADOMA, I was at the Women’s tour of Britain this year and during the team presentation the presenter was struggling with some of the ladies names. I am aways looking about for a shot and saw Kasia having a fit of the giggles. In the days of no comment and large visors on helmets it really great to see someones personally come through. I love this shot.”
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- Pauline Ballet @paulineballet: “Under the rainbow. Arctic Race of Norway 2018, Stage 3.This picture can be summarize in the first sentence I pronouced after taking off my motobike helmet at the end of the stage : “Well, it will take me some time to recover from this stage”.
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- Jean-Pierre Ronco @imagewriterphotography: Caleb Ewan trying to cool down at the 3rd TDU stage finish at Victor Harbor in South Australia. By temperature rising over the 40c mark, all the riders felt the heat of the sprint finish in the street of Victor Harbor. Finishing 3rd on the line, Caleb Ewan succeeded to keep the leader jersey for one more day.
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- Chiara Redaschi @chiara_redaschi: When you gave everything. Dylan Teuns after Milano Torino.
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- Brazo de Hierro @brazodehierro: Riding in the golden hour at the top of your favorite climb.
Enthusiast category
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- Chris Kendall @chriskendallphotography:Harrison Jones, Feeling rubbish. After a hard day in the saddle, at the end of stage 4, in Leeds, at the Tour de Yorkshire 2018.
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- Jordan Benjamin-Sutton @peloton_perspective: “The peloton passes the Colosseum on Stage 21 of this years Giro d’Italia.”
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- Rasmus Pellizotti @traedekongen: Scandinavia is cold but beauytiful in November.
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- Luis Alcantarilla @LuAl22: “Robocop. Gabz Cullaigh prepares to hit the National TT from Kirkley Hall.”
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- Sam Fritz @if_the_shoe_fritz: This was supposed to be a relaxed afternoon ride but as I increasingly lean towards gravel my sense of adventure is growing. I saw the river and thought ‘bugger it, lets try a new way home’.
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- Tom Reynolds @thomasrdotorg: “Paul van der Ploeg, at dawn atop Mt McKay, Victoria. March 2018.”
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- Anthony Leutenegger @anthonyleutenegger: “Wout van Aert, wearing the world championship jersey, powers through the muck and mud of of the Grand Prix Nommay on a cold day in France.”
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- Mats Palinckx @matspalinckx: The changing rooms of the ladies during Omloop Het Nieuwsblad were 3 kilometers away from the busses. Ladies of the Wiggle Honda team were preparing for the race next to the pressroom. In this moment all the journalists are passing by and they don’t give a f*ck.. For me it’s like the other races, barely press attention in women’s cycling.
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- Wilco Dragt @wilcodragtphotography: “Descending Mont Ventoux, France.”
Smartphone/action cam category
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- Wilco Dragt @wilcodragtphotography: In the shadow of the Mont Ventoux.
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- Toby Willis @tobychillis: #Lightbro. I raced hard in order to get to the forest as the sun rapidly rose. I knew there was going to be a perfect window for a great photo opportunity. Jackpot.
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- John Braynard @jbraynard: “In Norway there are small old roads that pass the outside of where modern tunnels now take traffic speeding through. This is one.”
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- David Willsher @chops77: “Hinze Dam wall OCD Symmetry”
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- Oleg Kostine @legotoaster: “Tunnel Vision. Cycling through a tunnel built by Brunel in a hidden Cotswold valley feels like a portal into another dimension.”
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- Michael Thompson @thommo_mj: I live for early morning rides like these.
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- Alex Henderson @alexhendo23: “BORA on the GOR. Riding the Great Ocean Road between the Tour Down Under and Cadel Evans race ensures plenty of pro sightings. Was so happy when Bora Hansgrohe took the win at the Cadel race a few days after this was taken (iPhone).”
Proudest Cycling Moment category
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- George Turner @jorgeterner: Leonard Turner racing in the U13 South Australian MTB championships.
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- Alexander Law @alex_law_photo: In August 2012 my Dad was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and although it was discovered quickly, it had spread to 5 of his internal organs and required an intensive 12 hour operation to remove the disease. It has always been his dream to compete for his country so we persuaded him to compete in the UCI amateur Time Trial Championship, the winners of which would qualify for Team GB. I had the privilege of following my Dad’s journey and am very proud to say he is now a Team GB athlete.
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- Alexander Law @alex_law_photo the second image to accompany Alexander Law’s Dad’s story.
Do you have a stunning photo or a Proud Cycling Moment to share? Find out more about the 2018 Mark Gunter Photographer of the Year Awards here.
