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After four weeks of submissions to the 2024 Mark Gunter Photo Awards, the waiting begins. We’ve seen hundreds of stunning photos come in, each capturing a little slice of the beauty of the sport – from the grit and slop of the cyclocross circuit, the whoosh of the velodrome, the grandeur of road cycling’s landscapes, and the haze of sun-struck gravel dust. And now it’s over to our panel of judges to debate and determine the best photos of the year.
Before we announce the winners, we asked each of the judges to pick a shortlist of ten favourites in both the Amateur and Professional categories. There are some common denominators, of course, but there’s a lot of variety too, showing the challenge facing the judges in achieving a consensus.
Today we have each of the judges’ shortlists for the Amateur category, with the Professional category lists to follow later this week, and the final results early next week. Enjoy!
Kristof Ramon
First up are the ten photos shortlisted by Kristof Ramon – a name who will be familiar to most Escape Collective readers, as he’s a long-time collaborator. Kristof is a celebrated cycling photographer widely respected among professional photographers in road racing. Hailing from Belgium, where cycling is part of the cultural fabric, Kristof has a profound passion for capturing the quiet beauty and human connection inherent in the sport. His evocative work is recognised and admired wherever cycling is celebrated. You can find him on Instagram at @kramon_velophoto.
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 |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 |Night cycling looks great. More criterium circuits should have lights! | Photo by Mat Gilfedder @matgilfedder | There is a section of whoop-de-whoops on the cyclocross course that has always been a puzzle to represent in photography. In video, the flowing momentum of the riders makes the videos appealing. But in stills, the undulation is hard to represent. I stepped back this year and allowed the headlamps to highlight the curvature of the whoops, then still panned with a lower shutter speed to convey the speed of the riders. I thought about editing the grass out of the foreground, but I believed it helped emphasize the speed of the riders by creating a contrast of movement within the frame. | Photo by Gabe Lloyd @thegabelloyd |Always worth keeping an eye out for the kangaroos around the Ipswich Cycle Park. | Photo by Mat Gilfedder @matgilfedder |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 |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 |Barbottina is a natural reserve in Liguria, Italy. In february we rode it through a thick snow, and as usual I shot some POV pictures while riding. | Photo by Edoardo Frezet @edoardo.frezet |You know that a race has been hard, if you look into the empty eyes of Puck Pieterse, right after the finish of the Dutch Cyclocross Championship. Unfortuntaly she finished second after a very strong rider Lucinda Brand. | Photo by Marco Loman @lomanmarco |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 |
Dominique Powers
Dominique Powers is a Los Angeles-based photographer whose love for the mountains and cycling converge in compelling visual storytelling. She has produced notable works, such as the “Leaders of Gravel” series, and has been an entrant and shortlisted photographer in the prestigious Mark Gunter Photo Awards. Dominique’s unique perspective as both a participant and documentarian adds depth to her portrayal of the cycling world. You can find her on Instagram at @dominiquepowers. Here are the ten photos that caught her eye:
Commuting by Barcelona I try to find out different places and take photos giving my message (bike) by my messenger (camera), so that this is a hidden and attractive place in Barcelona called ‘Sant Pau del Camp monastery’ set it in ‘El Raval’. When I took this photo I tried to express the perfect combination between the simplicity of an old bike framing by the old monastery. To me is a perfect match. | Photo by Xavi Calvo @calvox | El el espejo [the mirror] — Vuelta a España 2024.Salida Villarcayo.| Photo by Oscar Blanco @oblanco78 | 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 | 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 |Rain poured before and during the most recent World Cup at Dendermonde. There was no climbing on the bike with those conditions. Carrying the bike was by far the fastest. Marie Schreiber perfectly demonstrates this.| Photo by Amanda Crow @a_crow_photography |Speed — 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 | 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 | The German Cyclocross Championship took place at the 14.01.2024 in Radevormwald. This day started with intense snowfall and transformed the race track into a snowy-mud-mix, where the tough ladies partly rode without leg warmers. I wanted to capture the freezy toughness of the female riders in motion. | Photo Claudia Dilay Hauf @claudia.dilay.hauf_photography | Rainbow & Gold — on the podium of handibike 2024 World Championships in Zürich. | Photo by Yves Perret @yves_perret |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 |
Michal Ceveny
Michal is a photographer from the Czech Republic, whose portfolio of cycling images spans the road, to mountain bikes, gravel & beyond. He’s featured in multiple shortlists and top 10s in the past few years. You can find him on Instagram at @michalcervenyphoto. Michal’s shortlisted Amateur photos are as follows:
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 |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 |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 |This picture was taken during the European Road Championship Race in Hasselt, Belgium. It was one of the last races of Mathieu Van der Poel in his rainbow jersey. He attacked multiple times in the race, trying to avoid the sprint. The photo is during such an attack, showing his grimace. I believe Mathieu Van der Poel was a wonderful world champion, and is a true master of the sport. Having photographed him winning in Glasgow, Tabor and Leuven, this man holds a special place in my cycling heart. | Photo by Elias Rom @rom.images |Night cycling looks great. More criterium circuits should have lights! | Photo by Mat Gilfedder @matgilfedder |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 |Road world champion in Montreal 1974, French rider Genevieve Gambillon comes back in Montreal for the 1st time since 50 years in september 2024, invited by the organization of the GP Quebec and Montreal | Photo by Yves Perret @yves_perret |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 |Always worth keeping an eye out for the kangaroos around the Ipswich Cycle Park. | Photo by Mat Gilfedder @matgilfedder |Ellen van Dijk falls during the 1st stage of the team time trial in Valencia. La Vuelta Femenina. April 2024 | Photo by Tomasz Smietana @smietana_tomasz_photo |
Sarah Meyssonnier
Sarah is a Paris-based French photographer and visual journalist for Reuters. Her diverse portfolio spans news, cultural stories, and sports, with a particular emphasis on cycling. Known for her compelling and dynamic imagery, Sarah brings a journalistic eye and artistic depth to her work, making her a standout talent in the field. You can find her on Instagram at @sarahmeyssonnier. Here are Sarah’s shortlisted photos:
Ever since seeing the route of this year’s 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 |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 |Racers circling the course at the Colorado State Patrol test track, near Golden, Colorado shortly after a late afternoon thunderstorm had passed, leaving a spectacular rainbow. August 20, 2024. | Photo by Reid Neureiter @reidnewphoto |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. | Photo by Nate Rawsthorne @nate.r_photography | During a gravel tour traversing South Africa’s Western Cape with Gravel Afrika. Ranger and guide Matt shows a Dutch gravel tour group the fangs on a deceased Puff Adder found on the roadside. Puff Adders are one of the region’s most venomous snakes with a cytotoxic venom. | Photo by Dino Lloyd @dino_lloyd |Another photo from the same event in downtown Oslo. I camped next to City Hall for several laps of the crit to capture the return of bike racing to downtown Oslo. | Photo by Jørgen Mo @moern | This year, there was finally a bike race in downtown Oslo again. The Norwegian Cup has not had a race in the capital for many years, but in May, local club Frøy put their heads together, and made quite the spectacle in front of city hall. This family sat on a bench by the Akershus Fortress, watching the criterium race unfold, and I saw them as I came down from the top of the hill. I made sure to climb the little statue behind them to capture this, which seemed like quite a good day for them. | Photo by Jørgen Mo @moern |The warm atmosphere by community at Giro d’Italia start of stage 2, in the velodrome of San Francesco al Campo | Photo by Francesco Bonasera @francescob82 |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 | 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 |
Matt Grayson
Matt Grayson is a photographer of cycling, portraits, and lifestyle. He’s well known to the Mark Gunter Awards as a shortlister, top 10, and finalist. Matt’s focus on African cycling played a key role in two Sierra Leonian cyclists being awarded the Mark Gunter Young Cyclist Assistance. You can find him on Instagram at @mattgrayson_photo. The photos he shortlisted for the Amateur Category are as follows:
One photo, but two completely different street vibes during the Armed Forces Cycling Classic. I liked the angle of the barrier along with the lines in the crosswalk, but I didn’t expect the end result to look like two different photos. | Photo by Mike Smith @mikeyplaysbass | You know that a race has been hard, if you look into the empty eyes of Puck Pieterse, right after the finish of the Dutch Cyclocross Championship. Unfortuntaly she finished second after a very strong rider Lucinda Brand. | Photo by Marco Loman @lomanmarco |Reigning Norwegian CX champion Mie Bjørndal Ottestad distances her rival Oda Laforce after an intense fight through most of this race at the Norwegian CX Cup. I waited several laps to get some sunlight through the smoke, and finally got it on the last lap before I had to run to the finish line. | Photo by Jørgen Mo @moern |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 |Col de l’Iseran in February. Riding a bike up the lower hairpins of this French Alpine giant covered with a blanket of mid-Winter snow was an experience I never thought possible. A fat bike and favourable conditions made for the unforgettable highlight of the year. February 26th, 2024. | Photo by Graeme Langhorne @graemelanghorne |During a gravel tour traversing South Africa’s Western Cape with Gravel Afrika. Ranger and guide Matt shows a Dutch gravel tour group the fangs on a deceased Puff Adder found on the roadside. Puff Adders are one of the region’s most venomous snakes with a cytotoxic venom. | Photo by Dino Lloyd @dino_lloyd |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 |Ellen van Dijk falls during the 1st stage of the team time trial in Valencia. La Vuelta Femenina. April 2024 | Photo by Tomasz Smietana @smietana_tomasz_photo | 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 | 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 |
Coming next: We’ll publish the judges’ shortlists from the Professional Category later on this week, before unveiling the winners early next week. But it’s not too late to get involved: you can still donate to the competition’s charity partner Tour de Cure by voting for your favourite photo, which will raise funds for cancer research and help determine the winner of the Fan’s Favourite category.
