The entries have now closed for the 2023 edition of the Mark Gunter Photo Awards (MGPA) and the judges have painstakingly worked through hundreds of submissions and chosen their top 10 favourite photos from the professional and amateur categories.
However, this doesn’t mean that the winners have been chosen. There is one more step.
Tomorrow, the judges will convene, go through a voting and scoring methodology that’s been well refined over the years, and choose the top three winners for each category.
We will announce the winners on January 27th where the professional placegetters will receive the MGPA medallions and perpetual trophy, and the amateur winners will get some fantastic prizes generously donated by Wahoo.
Thank you to all who entered the 2023 MGPA and we wish the finalists luck in the judging process!
For now, enjoy each of the judges’ shortlists.
Gem Atkinson’s Shortlist
Gem Atkinson: Gem is a fabulous addition to our judging panel. She’s a current Photo Editor for Bloomberg, previously worked for Getty Images, and has poured over millions of photos throughout her career. Gem is also a keen cyclist, was one of Rapha’s original ambassadors, and it’s wonderful to reconnect with her in this competition.
Here are Gem’s top 10 selections from each category (in no particular order):
Professional Category:
This was taken on the team bus of Toms Skujiņš at Giro this year
Instagram Handle: hardyccphotos
Paris-Roubaix Femmes 2023. 3rd women’s edition of a race created in 1896. The captivating detail of a leg covered in mud that testifies to the silent difficulty of the event. At the intersection of the brutality of the sport and human vulnerability, this photo celebrates the triumph of women in cycling.
Instagram Handle: anoukflesch
Ryan Lateward taking a moment alone after winning the Scottish Kilo TT by nearly 3 seconds.
Instagram Handle: andrewleinsterphoto
Self-portrait in Gold Beach, OR. The sun had just dipped below the horizon as I was grabbing my bike…bit of a happy accident
Instagram Handle: bricycles
An ascent which seemed to have no end. Cyclocross World Championships- Hoogerheide, Netherlands.
Instagram Handle: olasulikowska1
Arrivederci. Brazilian mountain biker crashes during the UCI Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Cup in Val di Sole, Italy.
Instagram Handle: michalcervenyphoto
Tom Pidcock entering Siena solo to win Strade Bianche. I could talk for hours about the beauty of Siena and the way the evening light falls into the streets with an orange hue and long shadows. I knew I wanted a dramatic shot of my favourite race, showing the light, the fans, the winner in all its glory.
Instagram Handle: visualsofharry
Tour de France, July 18, stage 16, Jonas Vingegaard smashed the Tour de France with a stratospheric time during the ITT. Just after the stage, behind the signature podium Tadej Pogačar stayed in his thoughts and his disappointment while the winner of the stage signs the yellow jerseys.
Instagram Handle: paulineballet
On June 6th NYC recorded as the city with the worst air quality in the world. The scenes through the city resembled images from the movie “Blade Runner”. It still didn’t stop the pedicab riders from going out and looking for tourists in Times Square.
Instagram Handle: dperker
As part of my job as a photographer, exploring is one of the main reasons for a early wake up every morning. To explore not only means to travel to new places, but also to try to see places from other points of view. In this case we were crossing (and exploring) our own country (Italy), Puglia, the heel of it. As soon as I saw this salt pans, I imagined cyclists crossing the thin border, reflecting on colors.
Instagram Handle: paolopennimartelli
Amateur Category:
One of my longer exposures of the year is of a cyclocross course at night. Referencing techniques for astrophotography, I dialed down the aperture because the headlamps could be as bright as 1200 lumens. I exposed the course for a few seconds and popped a flash during the exposure to capture the silhouettes of riders. I particularly like how the course tape remains frozen to contrast the extreme movement of the riders through it.
Instagram Handle: thegabelloyd
A timely shot in the mirror catches the reflection of the blue sky, blue kit and blue bike of a cyclocross rider climbing a steep hill on a sunny day in December.
Instagram Handle: a_crow_photography
Anna Meares Velodrome in Brisbane is a great-looking venue. Alessia heads for start line in the Elite Women Team Sprint at the Australian National Track Championships.
Instagram Handle: matgilfedder
The Gate of Hell of the North. Cobblestone strip Pont Thibault in the early morning fog. The silence of Northern France before the battle breaks out in full force. Inspired by the work of my favorite photographer Stefan Vanfleteren.
Instagram Handle: johan_bezembinder
Pingeon Hunt. It was nightht and a guy with an old classic Contini was trying to play and catch Pingeons close to the Sant Antoni Market at Barcelona. In this case I tried a panning photo to show the movement and dynamism of the situation.
Instagram Handle: calvox
If a face could tell a tale of 4000km. Christian bellowing in the dead of night, after waiting for friends that didn’t exists and being chased by wild dogs.
Instagram Handle: saskiacmartin
Golden hour at the Traka. I spent some quite time here, taking a lot of photos and changing my camera settings. I’m happy with how this one turned out.
Instagram Handle: carlo_anz
The glamour side of winning and cycling, Danisch rider Per Strand Hagenes – Jumbo Visma DT – cooling down after he has just won the TT of Olympias’s Tour of The Netherlands, all on his own in a cold and dark pitbox at the TT Circuit of Assen, The Netherlands.
Instagram Handle: lomanmarco
Martin Vidaurre during MTB World Cup in Leogang Austria (Short track)
Instagram Handle: smietana_tomasz_photo
Rupert Hartley’s Shortlist
Rupert Hartley: Rupert’s photography has featured on the front of every major print news outlet in the UK and many around the world, from the New York Times to Newsweek. He has been recognised and exhibited by the UK Picture Editors Guild, and had his work was requested by the late Queen of England for a private family collection. These days he is the cofounder the British cycling brand Albion where much of his work can be found.
Here are Rupert’s top 10 selections from each category (in no particular order):
Professional category:
In flanders fields…
Instagram Handle: brampaulussen
And Saudi Tour again! I was a few meters in front of the peloton when I saw in the distance this group of channels running on the side of the road. I still don’t know how we managed to get out of the road and get both camels and riders in the same frame!
Instagram Handle: charlylopezph
Filippo Ganna flying in stage 10 of La Vuelta.
Instagram Handle: naikefotosport
From a busy year in Europe, this is still my favourite photo of the year. As Demi Vollering crossed the finish line at Liege-Bastogne-Liege, she became only the 2nd woman ever to win all 3 Ardennes Classics in one season. She rode straight over to her father and they embraced in tears of joy!
Instagram Handle: fameandspear
Gravel’s World Champs impact. Riders had to deal with a lot of dust and heat.
Instagram Handle: olasulikowska1
Rwandan cyclist Eric Nduwayo tackles heavy rains at the Race Around Rwanda, Rwanda’s only ultra-endurance race. Storms had been rolling in overnight when I reached this gravel section at dawn. Minutes later, Eric came up the hill navigating the rutted marks left by the trucks, whilst avoiding the herd of cattle crossing. Eric and five other Rwandans raced as part of the Rwanda Beyond project, which helps the riders to build on their careers beyond cycling, and inspiring them to stay in school.
Instagram Handle: mattgrayson_photo
Quinn Simmons, embodying the epitome of American muscle, refused to yield after a brutal crash left him with numerous abrasions and cuts during a stage of the Tour de France. Fuelled by a never-quit attitude, his unwavering determination transformed into a relentless drive to conquer the stage, defying pain and adversity with the resilience of a mustang, showcasing the indomitable spirit synonymous with his persona.
Instagram Handle: dankingphoto_
This was taken at the Tour de France Femmes, Lizzie Deignan first time since having kids. This was taken about 2km from the finish, where fans gathered to cheer everyone. The atmosphere was just so special.
Instagram Handle: hardyccphotos
Tour de France, July 18, stage 16, Jonas Vingegaard smashed the Tour de France with a stratospheric time during the ITT. Just after the stage, behind the signature podium Tadej Pogačar stayed in his thoughts and his disappointment while the winner of the stage signs the yellow jerseys.
Instagram Handle: paulineballet
I’ve been following women’s cycling for 8 years now and for me this picture shows just how far the sport has come compared to what I’ve experienced. For me, this photo of Demi Vollering, who has just won her 1st Tour de France, surrounded by photographers/media, shows the scale of this event and the extent to which women’s sport has grown.
Instagram Handle: thomas_maheux
Amateur category:
Paris-Roubaix Espoirs.. Bike races for the conti-teams is about winning. But some days and races is also about finishing.. Here 2 danish friends from seperate teams finishing together, Rasmus Søjberg(national jersey, and Nice-CIC), and Kasper Andersen(Hagen-Berman).
Instagram Handle: hestkjaer
“Muddy?” Cykelvasan 2023, Swedens largest mtb race was a mud race to be remembered.
Instagram Handle: xyklisten
Rookie sensation Joshua Tarling of Great Britain, with a superb 3rd place at the Worlds in Glasgow during the TT, he did 2 places better during the European Road Cycling Championship, by winning the men elite time trial. Storming out of the Hondsrug Tunnel in Emmen, The Netherlands.
Instagram Handle: lomanmarco
High Flyer A Glasgwegian seagull somewhat taken by surprise to come across Declan Brooks executing a backflip tuck no hander. This was just one of the incredible performances by BMX riders competing at the UCI World Championships. The rain held off just about long enough for the birds and bikes to get out and do their thing.
Instagram Handle: cyclingbytheway
After the fall There was a major crash at the elimination race in the UCI track championsleague cup. Fortunately noone was significanly injured. Theo Reinhardt, William Tidball, William Perrett, Mathias Guillemette.
Instagram Handle: judebytheway
Jesse East puts down a one foot table top off of a hip jump built at the 2023 Green River Classic as fellow riders look on from below. The Green River Classic is a freeride mountain biking event held outside of Green River, Utah put on by In the Hills Gang, a freeride collective out of Durango, Colorado, and supported by YT Industries. The weekend consists of freeriders learning new tricks and pushing their limits, ending with a ceremony crowning the King and Queen of the Classic.
Instagram Handle: fcole_bikez
Christian came in at 3am from finishing the transcontinental race. He was bellowing stories of wild dogs and imaginative friends. The darkness takes it toll in more ways than one. This is up there as one of my favourite images takes to date.
Instagram Handle: saskiacmartin
Kyle Aitken tumbling out of the Elite mens Madison with grace and style at the 2023 Oceania Track Championships in Brisbane.
Instagram Handle: matgilfedder
The first U23 to finish. Lauren Zoerner of Groove Off Road Racing douses herself with water on a scorching hot opening weekend of the USA Cyclocross Series at GOCross in Roanoke, Virginia.
Instagram Handle: rideaperture
Note to self: “Breathe”. Felicity celebrating on the exit ramp after setting the J19 Women Australian Record for 200m Individual Pursuit (2:19.952) at Oceania Track Championships.
Instagram Handle: matgilfedder
Jeff Curtes Shortlist:
Jeff Curtes: Jeff was at at the forefront of the snowboarding industry’s imagery since his first published images back in 1992. A legend of a man and in the snowboarding world, he was Burton Snowboards’ Principal Photographer until 2012, and will always be a keen cyclist.
Here are Jeff’s top 10 selections from each category (in no particular order):
Professional category:
As part of my job as a photographer, exploring is one of the main reasons for a early wake up every morning. To explore not only means to travel to new places, but also to try to see places from other points of view. In this case we were crossing (and exploring) our own country (Italy), Puglia, the heel of it. As soon as I saw this salt pans, I imagined cyclists crossing the thin border, reflecting on colors.
Instagram Handle: paolopennimartelli
Jonas Vingegaard riding to an unbelievable win and stamping his authority on the 2023 Tour de France. I wanted to really convey the speed and drama of the final riders during the ITT and knew I needed a clean shot with motion.
Instagram Handle: visualsofharry
The peloton of the 34th Spartakiada, crossing the Corinth canal. Spartakiada, a cycling challenge where riders ride from Panathenaic Stadium in Athens to the statue of King Leonidas in Sparta, is based on the run of Pheidippides, who ran from Athens to Sparta before the Battle of Marathon (490 BC) in a day and a half to seek aid against the Persians.
Instagram Handle: nassostphoto
Tom Pidcock entering Siena solo to win Strade Bianche. I could talk for hours about the beauty of Siena and the way the evening light falls into the streets with an orange hue and long shadows. I knew I wanted a dramatic shot of my favourite race, showing the light, the fans, the winner in all its glory.
Instagram Handle: visualsofharry
Tour de France, stage two and the warm welcome of the Basque country at the start of the stage to Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Instagram Handle: paulineballet
“Everest, cycling?” A 10 day route averaging 4.000m and altitude sickness being an ever-present concern. I had the opportunity to witness a group of thrill seekers conquering Everest Reserve. The day we scheduled to arrive there I asked the driver to drop me off, grabbing a spare bike and riding this final leg with the group. from all stages i simply couldn’t miss this one. No bib, no shoes, no helmet, just my trousers and a down jacket, camera on the back, I rode the last 65km up to 5.600m.
Instagram Handle: elevenspeedloservincent
Just all alone in the stunning Dolomites!
Instagram Handle: pjfilm
Amateur category:
Morning at col de Galibier – One of the most famous mountain passes for cycling enthusiasts. At sunrise, on a morning among the hottest days of summer 2023, hundreds of cyclist decide to climb the slopes of this mountain crossing lines of light created by the rising sun.
Instagram Handle: emanuele_baracco
Lacets of the Tarentaise. A lesser known climb all the way to La Combe and beyond. I recall the smell of the pine on the way up and being able to seek shade within the alpine gradients and not seeing a single soul apart from mountain goats. So tranquil and peaceful. A perfect Summers climb. One of the best kept secrets…..
Instagram Handle: Bellajlleach
Emocionante día en el velódromo de Cali capturando la intensidad de la competencia internacional de ciclismo llamada tissot uci track nations cup. Mi debut como fotógrafo en un evento tan destacado, siguiendo de cerca al equipo colombiano en la emocionante prueba de persecución por equipos
Instagram Handle: sebastianebustos
This black and white photo, taken with a fisheye lens from a low angle, captures one of my favourite trails from a new angle. To me, the perspective adds a sense of depth, showing how relatively small the action is in the vastness of the forest.
Instagram Handle: alecsuriyuth
Descent to Laguna Azul, Araucania. Descending singletrack to the lake edge was just reward after a big day of hike-a-bike and steep climbing to traverse Volcan Quetrupillan. With us we were carrying everything we needed for a 5-month bikepacking tour in Patagonia. This trip was the conclusion of a 4-year project to bikepack the length of the American Continents, following the American Cordillera.
Instagram Handle: highluxphoto
I wanted to show the danish scenery that the riders pass, and often not shown.. Because everyone thinks that Denmark is flat..(Local cat. A road race)
Instagram Handle: hestkjaer
Stormy Skies Over Glasgow Keiran Reilly blasting his way to BMX park world championship gold with a perfectly executed tuck no hander.
Instagram Handle: cyclingbytheway
The last push. It was the last day of La Volta Catalunya 2023, and in the photo we can see Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic fighting for the victory at the end of teh stage in Montjuic mountain (a little mountain in Barcelona). Finally Remco won the stage and Primoz was second on the stage but he was be able to win La Vola Catalunya 2023. In the photo we can see all the fans, photographers and jouranlists waiting for the moment.
Instagram Handle: calvox
After spending a few days riding in Moab, UT, I needed a change of scenery. We left the red rocks of the desert and found ourselves in peak foliage in Vail. I’ve never been engulfed in yellow before. It was magical.
Instagram Handle: galen1973
Golden hour at the Traka. I spent some quite time here, taking a lot of photos and changing my camera settings. I’m happy with how this one turned out.
Instagram Handle: carlo_anz
Russ Ellis’ Shortlist
Russ Ellis: Russ is among the top World Tour cycling photographers, and his images are on the cutting edge of cycling photography. He is well known by cyclists, and fans alike. Russ two hobbies are cycling and photography, so combining them are a dream come true for Russ. He’s from the UK but during the racing season he packs up and goes where the races go.
Here are Russ’ top 10 selections from each category (in no particular order):
Profesional Category:
TDF Stage 015. For several years I have seen this cable-car graveyard, and always wanted to make a picture there. Now the moment was there, It was a long neutral at the start of stage 015 of the TDF. All the stars lined up, so I could make this once in a lifetime shot.
Instagram Handle: jozza_Cyclingpics
Stage 016, Giro. As we took a good look at the last Km’s of stage 16, we decided that the last Km’s would be the most photogenic of the day. to bad millions of white campers thought the same. We had to park the car 2Km after the finish, I walked almost 4Km down and then luckely I could find a spot of 35mtrs, where the campers could not park because of a little swamp. And was able to take this picture.
Instagram Handle: jozza_cyclingpics
Col du Loz, TDF 2023. As the crowd went mad in the climb, it was so busy that you could not see the stunning views col du loze has to give. I decided to leave the crowd and look for the most beautiful back-drop I could find.
Instagram Handle: jozza_Cyclingpics
Stage 019 TDF. It was a long, long day in the car with my co-workers/collegues, as they were complaining all the time. At the very last moment we where able to find a little pittoresk village. In this village there was the most weird cafe/workplace. Where men where walking is skirts and have wigs and strange heads. I walked in and asked if I could take a picture….. from this moment on a little fairytale begun. I have taken hundreds of pictures all good an special, this is my favorite.
Instagram Handle: jorisknapenhotmail.com
The lone rider. Taken at the World Championships Glasgow this year.
Instagram Handle: hardyccphotos
Saudi Tour. The coolest event I have ever shot related to cycling. Nice mountains and landscapes like this one surrounding the peloton during 5 stages. What else can we ask for?
Instagram Handle: charlylopezph
Team Jumbo-Visma with the yellow jersey Jonas Vingegaard through an old Citroën window on Stage 21 of the Tour de France 2023 from Moirans-en-Montagne to Poligny.
Instagram Handle: anoukflesch
Tom Pidcock entering Siena solo to win Strade Bianche. I could talk for hours about the beauty of Siena and the way the evening light falls into the streets with an orange hue and long shadows. I knew I wanted a dramatic shot of my favourite race, showing the light, the fans, the winner in all its glory.
Instagram Handle: visualsofharry
This was taken at the Tour de France Femmes, Lizzie Deignan first time since having kids. This was taken about 2km from the finish, where fans gathered to cheer everyone. The atmosphere was just so special.
Instagram Handle: hardyccphotos
Amateur Category
Tour Down Under Men’s Time Trial Stage – a rider (Michael Schar) checking the departure times at the station to make sure he is on the starting platform at the right time.
Instagram Handle: timmmiiip
Pingeon Hunt. It was nightht and a guy with an old classic Contini was trying to play and catch Pingeons close to the Sant Antoni Market at Barcelona. In this case I tried a panning photo to show the movement and dynamism of the situation.
Instagram Handle: calvox
View from inside Redcar’s RNLI Station during the Men’s Circuit Race as part of The British National Road Championships.
Instagram Handle: emmawilcock23
If a face could tell a tale of 4000km. Christian bellowing in the dead of night, after waiting for friends that didn’t exists and being chased by wild dogs.
Instagram Handle: saskiacmartin
Taken at the track cycling championships. The spot lights highlighted a small number of spectators, creating a nice link and engagement with the rider.
Instagram Handle: awrk201
Astana rider – Gianmarco Garofoli – passing Pinot Virage during Il Lombardia 2023. Cycling with the support of Pinot’s fans was truly emotional!
Instagram Handle: agagulbierz
Anna Meares Velodrome in Brisbane is a great-looking venue. Alessia heads for start line in the Elite Women Team Sprint at the Australian National Track Championships.
Instagram Handle: matgilfedder
Esta foto fue tomada en una carrera local de la población de Oñati en Guipúzcoa en la categoría sub23 El corredor de la imagen es de Oñati y ademas se despedia ee la competicion en esa carrera y seve la emocion que tiene y como lo celebra junto a sus amigos
Instagram Handle: ziklix_photo
Martin Vidaurre during MTB World Cup in Leogang Austria (Short track)
Instagram Handle: smietana_tomasz_photo
Seeing Rainbows Pauline Ferrand-Prevot being cheered on by two young fans while dominantly riding away for her third straight XC Mountain Bike World Championship.
Instagram Handle: eealxndr
Bram Berkien‘s Shortlist
Bram Berkien: Bram was last year’s competition winner in the professional category with this magnificent photo. Ben is not exclusively a cycling photographer, but better described as an active lifestyle photographer. Some of his clients include PSV Eindhoven, ING, adidas, Team Jumbo-Visma, Nationale Nederlanden and other brands and sports magazines.
Here are Bram’s top 10 selections from each category (in no particular order):
Professional Category:
Jonas Vingegaard and his loyal domestique and Best Friend Nathan Van Hooydonck photographed on stage 21 of the Tour de France. Unfortunately the last bike race the pair ever did and will ever do together. This photo was already one of my favourites, shot against the iconic Arc de Triomphe in Paris now filled with even more meaning knowing it sadly will never happen again.
Instagram Handle: visualsofharry
Demi Vollering appears out of the mist on the Tourmalet, two kilometers from the finish of stage seven of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2023. She had just passed Kasia Niewadoma, and the lead she gains on this stage puts her into the yellow jersey for the 8th and final stage of the race, which she keeps the following day.
Instagram Handle: dominiquepowers
Gravel’s World Champs impact. Riders had to deal with a lot of dust and heat.
Instagram Handle: olasulikowska1
Mads Pedersen was one of the first riders to take the start of the ITT in Passy on Stage 18 of the Tour de France 2023. Pedersen finished in the Top 10, 3’31” slower than the incredible ride of Jonas Vingegaard.
Instagram Handle: anoukflesch
„The missing victory“ There are certainly few races that have been as high on Mathieu van der Poel’s wish list as Paris-Roubaix. This year, he fulfilled this dream and crossed the finish line in the velodrome in first place. A very special moment in cycling history for him, for all the spectators, but also for me as a photographer.
Instagram Handle: carla.nagel
A shivering young cyclist Sam Budd trying to get warm in his moms dryrobe after finishing a cyclocross race in harsh conditions.
Instagram Handle: brampaulussen
The lone rider. Taken at the World Championships Glasgow this year.
Instagram Handle: hardyccphotos
Tom Pidcock entering Siena solo to win Strade Bianche. I could talk for hours about the beauty of Siena and the way the evening light falls into the streets with an orange hue and long shadows. I knew I wanted a dramatic shot of my favourite race, showing the light, the fans, the winner in all its glory.
Instagram Handle: visualsofharry
In February, Daniel Oss came for altitude training in Colombia. We were in Guatape, a small town near Medellin, where chivas are used by locals for transportation. As soon as he saw one, he hopped in and said, “I’m like the Fresh Prince of Guatape.”
Instagram Handle: pipecano_photo
Tour de France, July 18, stage 16, Jonas Vingegaard smashed the Tour de France with a stratospheric time during the ITT. Just after the stage, behind the signature podium Tadej Pogačar stayed in his thoughts and his disappointment while the winner of the stage signs the yellow jerseys.
Instagram Handle: paulineballet
Amateur Category:
Three friends riding 192km in October to get to a cabin in southern Norway. One had a flat tire. I didnt help him. Decided to take some photos insted. Sorry Peter. The sun went down at 5:30 pm and we rode in the sunset the last kilometers and logs in the fireplace warmed us up. Epic ride.
Instagram Handle: Simstra
We’re in this together. The tourist linger as the riders rest in the centre of the Trieste Piazza. 850km is hard, harder in tough conditions. This moment captured that exact feeling of a holiday, and not what had been endured.
Instagram Handle: saskiacmartin
Gent-Wevelgem 2023 will always be the edition of Laporte and Van Aert. But I’ll always remember Marijn van den Berg crossing the finish line.
Instagram Handle: suzandbsr
Into the city walls of Ypres.
Instagram Handle: suzandbsr
The Marymoor Grand Prix (or Vision GP) is one of the biggest track cycling events in the USA. Riders from across the country travel to Seattle, Wa, for the racing and the community. Andy Baker is an active racer and the president of the board for the velodrome so he plays a key role in all aspects of the track and the community. Primarily an endurace rider, Andy has taken a flyer in the minor final of the keirin and caught folks off guard as they enter the home stretch.
Instagram Handle: khelson10
The Goodwood Road Race – held on the 1982 World Champs Course – is becoming a favourite early season fixture in the road race calendar. Featuring a 3km climb, the weather is either cool, chilly, or very cold. This year the men’s race was also very wet, just to add to the discomfort.
Instagram Handle: ianwrightsonphotography
Entering the Anna Meares Velodrome (Brisbane, Australia) for a big night of Track Racing.
Instagram Handle: matgilfedder
Golden hour at the Traka. I spent some quite time here, taking a lot of photos and changing my camera settings. I’m happy with how this one turned out.
Instagram Handle: carlo_anz
Momentary Bliss. A whirlwind trip to see the start of the TCR. One of the wettest starts meant riders where forced inside to shelter and rest before the legendary race began.
Instagram Handle: saskiacmartin
This is from Il Lombardia 2023, the last race of Thibaut Pinot before retiring. As for the Tour the France the Collectif Ultras Pinot arranged the ‘Virage Pinot’ on the last climb of the race, a place full of ‘tifosi’. With my dear friend Francesco we thought it was the most interesting spot and we stayed there for a long time. These photos are some of the results of that beautiful day. Suffice to say that Pinot had to stop there as the ultras were uncontainable.
Instagram Handle: pedaleforchetta
Alex Broadway’s Shortlist
Alex Broadway: Alex is an awarded sports photographer, heralding from London, and a citizen of the globe. Alex can be seen at the side of the road of every cycling event, camera in hand of course. Alex was recently awarded the Winner of the Specialist Portfolio in the British Sports Journalism Awards and the winner of the L’Equipe Prix Richard Martin award in 2022. Alex won the Mark Gunter Photo Awards in 2019 and we welcome him to the judging panel in 2023.
Here are Alex’s top 10 selections from each category (in no particular order):
Professional Category:
Race Around Rwanda. Manuel starts pedaling again after the puncture, chasing the first group. he’s riding this long straight road uphill. Only a guy pushing the bike and a bird photobombing the moment.
Instagram Handle: chiara_redaschi
Paige Onweller in Patagonia, Arizona getting ready for her gravel season.
Instagram Handle: dperker
In 2023 Dwellingup 100 hosted the Masters Mountain Bike World Championships in Western Australia. This aerial shot was captured at the Dwaarlindjirraap swing bridge, in Lane Pool reserve.
Instagram Handle: daniela_tommasi_photography
Paris-Roubaix Femmes 2023. 3rd women’s edition of a race created in 1896. The captivating detail of a leg covered in mud that testifies to the silent difficulty of the event. At the intersection of the brutality of the sport and human vulnerability, this photo celebrates the triumph of women in cycling.
Instagram Handle: anoukflesch
Tour de France, stage two and the warm welcome of the Basque country at the start of the stage to Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Instagram Handle: paulineballet
Unbound Gravel is a very hard race to shoot. You are in off-road cars all day long following racers over the 200 mile course. This spot was the first stop we drove to and by the time we got to this creek the peloton was already shattered and bikes were already destroyed. Some riders opted to go through the creek full speed ahead creating this beautiful fan of water and some riders actually stopped and washed their bikes before they continued on their race.
Instagram Handle: dperker
Tom Pidcock entering Siena solo to win Strade Bianche. I could talk for hours about the beauty of Siena and the way the evening light falls into the streets with an orange hue and long shadows. I knew I wanted a dramatic shot of my favourite race, showing the light, the fans, the winner in all its glory.
Instagram Handle: visualsofharry
Tour de France, July 18, stage 16, Jonas Vingegaard smashed the Tour de France with a stratospheric time during the ITT. Just after the stage, behind the signature podium Tadej Pogačar stayed in his thoughts and his disappointment while the winner of the stage signs the yellow jerseys.
Instagram Handle: paulineballet
I’ve been following women’s cycling for 8 years now and for me this picture shows just how far the sport has come compared to what I’ve experienced. For me, this photo of Demi Vollering, who has just won her 1st Tour de France, surrounded by photographers/media, shows the scale of this event and the extent to which women’s sport has grown.
Instagram Handle: thomas_maheux
If Wallers Arenberg is known for Paris Roubaix, an amateur nighttime cyclocross takes place on this legendary site. The opportunity to have fun with light… Here Eddy Lefebvre, French amateur champion in a tunnel on the circuit.
Instagram Handle: sportpic_agency
Amateur Category:
Winters in the nordic, is often cold and short days.. So I follow the contiteam Restaurant Suri-CarlRas on their winter weekends and follow them around.. So after almost 4 hours in temperatures below 0, they passed this bridge and the scene was set..
Instagram Handle: hestkjaer
Worldchampion Fem van Empel flying on a technical descend at the Balenberg to secure the win over Lucinda brand. I love the glow of the panshot matching the worldchampion rainbow jersey.
Instagram Handle: yvesclaes
British Cycling Cyclo-Cross National Championships 2023 held at the Westmorland Showground Cumbria. Heavy rain had turned the lower section of the course into a mudfest, some riders could not ride the water earlier in the weekend due to the depth. The final race of the weekend was the men’s national championships and the section became just rideable.
Instagram Handle: andrew_field_photography
I followed the women’s gravel world championships, trying to see it at as many points as possible. I arrived at the finish with just 2km to go, but there was no space left in the crowd to get a good view. I spotted two people on a terrace and thought, ‘Run and try it.’ Thankfully, they let me enter, and I was so happy with the result. There was a wave of people watching Kasia win her first rainbow stripes, and behind those, thousands more around the world who wanted to watch a live broadcast.
Instagram Handle: carlo_anz
High Flyer A Glasgwegian seagull somewhat taken by surprise to come across Declan Brooks executing a backflip tuck no hander. This was just one of the incredible performances by BMX riders competing at the UCI World Championships. The rain held off just about long enough for the birds and bikes to get out and do their thing.
Instagram Handle: cyclingbytheway
This is by far my most daring shot of the year, a 3.2 seconds hand-raised motion blur, during the UCI Track Champions league, Women’s scratch race. Zoom lenses were prohibited, so I had to be creative.
Instagram Handle: aeronico
This is from Il Lombardia 2023, the last race of Thibaut Pinot before retiring. As for the Tour the France the Collectif Ultras Pinot arranged the ‘Virage Pinot’ on the last climb of the race, a place full of ‘tifosi’. With my dear friend Francesco we thought it was the most interesting spot and we stayed there for a long time. These photos are some of the results of that beautiful day. Suffice to say that Pinot had to stop there as the ultras were uncontainable.
Instagram Handle: pedaleforchetta
Martin Vidaurre during MTB World Cup in Leogang Austria (Short track)
Instagram Handle: smietana_tomasz_photo
Golden hour at the Traka. I spent some quite time here, taking a lot of photos and changing my camera settings. I’m happy with how this one turned out.
Instagram Handle: carlo_anz
My husband Alain climbing with the Culan (2’789 meters) in the background. We took this shot just a few kilometers from our house in Gryon… Yep, we’re lucky to live here.
Instagram Handle: cyclingheidi
What did you think of this story?