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Well, it’s time: the 2024 Mark Gunter Photographer of the Year Awards have been underway since December, and after showcasing some highlights throughout the last month and the judges’ shortlists last week, we have the absolute pleasure of announcing the winners.
The Mark Gunter Photo Awards are an annual event held in memory of Mark Gunter (June 10, 1974 – November 29, 2015). Mark was a widely respected and popular photographer in the cycling world, dying tragically early of oesophageal cancer. He left behind a legacy of phenomenal work and his name lives on in this competition, which we are honoured to be a part of. Mark’s wife – Leeanne Gatien – is the driving force behind the awards, and we are hugely grateful for all her hard work.
Mark at the 2011 Tour de France.
The awards are always hotly contested, with hundreds of entrants in both the Amateur and Professional categories. This year, a Fan’s Favourite category was also introduced, allowing readers to vote for the picture they most admired.
The task of determining the Amateur and Professional category winners fell on our panel of judges, each respected photographers in their own right. Kristof Ramon, Sarah Meyssonnier, Dominique Powers, Michal Cerveny and Matt Grayson convened on a judging call, debating the merits of each shortlisted photo and finally arriving at a consensus. This was no easy task, so to each of the judges – thank you for your time and care!
Thanks also to each photographer who entered the competition this year, making it one of the most spectacular in its history. The awards are not just about the recognition and prizes on offer – funds raised from entry fees are donated towards cancer research through Tour de Cure, raising thousands of dollars for this worthy cause each year.
And now: on to the photos!
Professional category
Tenth place: Tour de France Femmes avec ZWIFT, stage 7 in Le Grand Bornand. The little fan was cheering very hard every single rider. | Photo by Gaëtan Flamme @gaetan_sportpic | Ninth place: The Koppenberg was once again a decisive point in the Tour of Flanders this year, with all but two riders slipping off their bikes and being forced to walk. This was the last time the peloton saw Van Der Poel on that day, the rest of them reduced to clip clipping up the infamous cobbles in their cleats as he tore away to victory. | Photo by Zac Williams @z_w_photography |Eighth place: This photo was taken behind the podium where Pogacar had just won Il Lombardia. I have no clue what he was thinking at that exact moment. What do you think? | Photo by Wout Beel @woutbeel |Seventh place: Evie Richards of Great Britain won the World Champion title in short track discipline in Andorra. | Photo by Aleksandra Sulikowska @olasulikowska1 |Sixth place: I covered the Tour of Oman for the second time this year, and this race continues to fascinate me. It takes us beyond European borders and offers thousands of spectators, often unaccustomed to this sport, a unique opportunity to witness the world’s best cyclists in action. These two young girls are the perfect example: captivated, they watch in awe at the spectacle before them, embodying the magic of cycling. | Photo by Thomas Maheux @thomas_maheux |Fifth place: An emotional John Degenkolb seeing his kids at the Paris Roubaix velodrome | Photo by Gareth Quinn @mightyquinnphotos |Fourth place: The last Spanish Cyclocross Championship was held in Amurrio on a beautiful circuit with many technical sections and very slippery mud due to the rains of the previous days that put the skills of the cyclists to the test. In one of the last laps the BH team rider Jofre Cullell, who was fighting for the medals, skidded when entering a puddled area, falling to the ground right where I was, with my camera almost on the ground, because the area seemed very interesting visually and I was lucky enough to be able to capture the moment in which his fall raised all the mud. Bad luck for the cyclist and good luck for the photographer. | Photo by Tino Alvarez Rodriguez @tinosemeyes |
The podium
We celebrate the work of the top three pro photographers with the Mark Gunter Photographer of the Year Awards trophy and medallions.
Third place
Winner of the bronze medallion in the 2024 Mark Gunter Photo Awards is this shot by Gaëtan Flamme. Congratulations, Gaëtan!
Some comments from the judges included:
“It looks like a painting – one of the best photos of CX I’ve seen this season… I get struck by this picture.” – Sarah Meyssonnier
“It’s a wonderful composition – the post-production has been done well, it speaks to me. I love the colour.” – Kristof Ramon
UCI Cyclo-cross world cup in Hulst (NED), Elite women. Famous round because of THE WALL, where the bike rides you 🙂 | Photo by Gaëtan Flamme @gaetan_sportpic |
Second Place
Our silver medallist of the 2024 Mark Gunter Photo Awards is Thomas Maheux, with this emotional shot of Kasia Niewiadoma following her dramatic Tour de France win.
Judges’ remarks:
“On top of the emotion, it has significance – it’s the biggest thing that could happen to her, and also the presence of the guy she’s hugging is important. Seeing his hands with the paint on them … I couldn’t have imagined the emotion better. There are so many layers in this pic.” – Kristof Ramon
We are witnessing an exceptional finale at the 2024 Tour de France. Kasia has just won the race, regarded as the most prestigious in cycling, by a 4-second margin. Taylor Phinney, her husband, is heading toward her, his hands covered in paint after cheering her on a few meters below, on the slopes of Alpe d’Huez. A barrier separates them, but it doesn’t take away from the joy they share together after this victory | Photo by Thomas Maheux @ thomas_maheux |
First place
The professional category winner of the 2024 Mark Gunter Photographer of the Year Award is this shot by Leon van Bon. Congratulations, Leon – you win the highly-coveted perpetual trophy and gold medallion.
“We have a winner. We are here to praise action, beautiful pictures and originality – this is my number one.” – Sarah Meyssonnier
“It’s a moment. I was there as well – he knew it was going to happen, he was sitting on the inside of the barriers, he took the risk and he executed – it was premeditated by him. It has the most important rider in it, in a split second moment.” – Kristof Ramon
During stage 15 of the Giro d’Italia, heading toward Livigno, I heard a rumor about skiers leaping over the first riders to arrive. I thought, “This could either be incredible or complete rubbish.” I decided to take my chance—and the result was absolutely amazing! Luckily, Pogačar went for the win and was the first to reach the scene, making this moment even more spectacular. | Photo by Leon van Bon @leon_van_bon |
Amateur category
Tenth place: Vertical drone image of a peloton group during LÉtape by Tour de France Portugal, passing close to the coast line… | Photo by Agnelo Quelhas @agneloquelhasphotography |Ninth place: The German Cyclocross Championship took place at the 14.01.2024 in Radevormwald. The intense snowfall in the men’s race. I liked the mistakenly peaceful impression that the falling snow put over the hard race. I liked the contrast between the peaceful snowflakes and the hard race. | Photo Claudia Dilay Hauf @claudia.dilay.hauf_photography | Eighth place: This an epic moment, the final kilometre of the TransPortugal ROADS 6th stage, very harsh weather and the mix of hard rain and fog in the climate to Foia mountain, in the Algarve. | Photo by Agnelo Quelhas @agneloquelhasphotography |Seventh place: Ever since seeing the route of this years crit national championships, I knew I wanted a photo from this specific bridge. When I arrived, the angles and background did not really click for me, but I decided to play a bit with the sunlight coming from over the big fortress to my left. Uno-X did win in the end, having pulled most of the race. | Photo by Jørgen Mo @moern |Sixth place: On the blisteringly hot final day of the Renewitour, over the iconic Wall of Geraardsbergen, Belgian champion Arnaud De Lie struck mercilessly. He took this extremely tough stage to his own devices and went to the limit. Languit sat down on the ground, in need of refreshment. What a simple bottle of water can be worth. | Photo by Robin De Saeger @robindesaeger |Fifth place: Multiple exposure to capture the swirling infield warm-up area at the Australian National Track Championships, Anna Meares Velodrome, Brisbane, March 2024. | Photo by Mat Gilfedder @matgilfedder | Fourth place: Rainbow & Gold — on the podium of handibike 2024 World Championships in Zürich. | Photo by Yves Perret @yves_perret |
The podium
The top three in the Amateur category win gift vouchers, courtesy of our friends at Velocio.
Third place receives a $250 USD voucher.
Second place gets a $500 USD voucher.
… and first place wins a $1,000 Velocio voucher.
Third place
In third place is this shot by Hugo Pereira. Our judges loved this one for its composition and detail, remarking:
“The light is spot on, it is framing it for you. I can see it, I can feel it.” – Kristof Ramon
“I love the sweat glistening on the fingers.” – Dominique Powers
A rider warming up for the final stage of the Volta a Portugal. Captured on a sweltering summer day in Portugal as I searched for some much-needed water, while the riders geared up for their final efforts in this grueling race. | Photo by Hugo Pereira @hugopereira_x |
Second place
Winning a $500 USD voucher from Velocio is this stunning portrait by Llewellyn De Belder.
“Very strong, very good, very well edited – wow.” – Kristof Ramon
“I love the emotion of this one.” – Sarah Meyssonnier
This is the face of Axel Huens, after a rainy, muddy, cobble race around the region of Ath. | Photo by Llewellyn De Belder @llewellyn_debelder |
First place
The winner of the amateur category in the 2024 Mark Gunter Photo Awards is this shot by Mat Gilfedder. Congrats, Mat! You’ve won a $1,000 USD clothing pack from our friends at Velocio.
“The winning picture. Almost reminds me of a film picture, the amount of speed it has, the black and white grading … I would put it on my wall. The photographer didn’t even remove the sensor dust, but I don’t mind this, it makes it pure.” – Michal Cerveny
“Everything is sharp, the shutter speed is so spot on – it’s like he’s on fire.” – Matt Grayson
Liam Walsh speeds past on his way to a win in the Queensland Elite Men Scratch Race, Anna Meares Velodrome, Brisbane, December 2024. | Photo by Mat Gilfedder @matgilfedder |
Fan’s Favourite
Voted for by readers and awarded to the photo with the most votes (either in the Professional or Amateur category), these photographers win a cash prize.
Third place: Taking home $100 AUD is the third placed photo, by Nate Rawsthorne (amateur category):
Tour De France Stage 9 – The iconic gravel stage. Jasper Stuyven launches a late attack to try and secure the stage win on the final gravel sector. After a long day of walking from Troyes to the gravel sector and securing a good spot, I was able to capture the moment precisely when he was solo off the front engulfed by dust.
Second Place: In second place, receiving $250 AUD, is Gareth Quinn (pro category).
An emotional John Degenkolb seeing his kids at the Paris Roubaix velodrome.
First place: Congrats to Andrew Smith (amateur category), winner of the Fan’s Favourite award – and recipient of $500 AUD.
The National Hill Climb Championships is the closest thing we have in the UK to the atmosphere experienced at a mountain top stage finish in the Tour De France. Rider Ben Millar makes a big final effort to reach the finish line at the top of the hill through the large crowds shouting support. I liked the B&W colour scheme for this photo.
Thanks!
Thanks for following the competition this year – it’s truly one of the highlights of our year, and we’re looking forward to the 2025 edition already. Let us know your thoughts on the winning photos in the comments below!
