The Mark Gunter Photo Awards 2022: Some of our favourite entries so far

The 2022 edition of The Mark Gunter Photo Awards opened just eight days ago, and the images have been incredible. It seems cliché to say this, but each year the awards go on, the standard of images reaches new heights. 

This year’s competition will be judged by an extended group of talented art professionals and cycling photographers – Antonio Colombo, Susanna Brown, Veronique Rolland, James Startt, and Sean Hardy. The five of them will choose who’ll take the honours and amazing prizes on offer.

Now in its seventh year, Rouleur has joined forces as a proud partner to promote the awards. Rouleur has forged its reputation with a history of strong photography, and linking up with the awards is a natural connection. As a result, for the first time ever, a selection of winning images will come to life in print in upcoming issues of Rouleur magazine. Others will also be on display at the annual Rouleur Live event in London. Needless to say, it's an exciting new chapter for the awards.

Every single entry is making a difference – in more ways than one. The images undoubtedly bring light, joy and inspiration, but the entry fee also goes towards two causes — cancer research with Tour de Cure and Young Cyclist Assistance.

Make sure you're keeping up to speed with the awards by following Rouleur and Mark Gunter on Instagram, and by using the hashtag: #MarkGunterPhotoawards2022

Entry into the fiercely-contested professional category is reserved for those who earn a significant income from the their cycling photography.

Jeff Van der Stucken @jeffvsphoto

An artists impression almost — our first cover image by Jeff Van der Stucken in the Professional category: “A fan of Belgian Cyclocross races through a walnut grove in Dixon California.” 

Wout Beel @woutbeel

"One of Remco’s main goals has always been Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Can’t believe I just won this Monument.”

Alen Milavec @alenmilavec

"This photo shows Tadej Pogačar at the finish line when he attacked. It was a long finish line and I got higher up to capture the panning shot with the telephoto lens."

Gareth Quinn @mightyquinnphotos

"The first stage of the 2022 Corsa Rosa in Hungary came down to a battle between Mathieu van der Poel, Biniam Girmay and Caleb Ewan. Ewan crashed and Van der Poel bettered Girmay in the last metres. Van der Poel was awarded his first maglia rosa. Girmay would get his revenge a few days later..."

Thomas Maheux @thomas_maheux

"The emotion of Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig after her victory on the Tour de France stage three. Probably her most beautiful victory here."

Agnelo Quelhas @agneloquelhasphotography 

"The morning light on the first climb of the L'Étape du Tour Portugal, in the Viana do Castelo region, with the traditional Romanesque monuments, in contrast to the colours of the peloton."

Christian Pérez @inkdustrial

"Colombia at UCI Nations Cup in Cali."

Javier Martínez de la Puente Azcárate @zubikophoto

"When your son is about to be proclaimed champion of the bike trial world cup..."

James Clarke @justjamesmedia

"Out from the Depths" – Sa Calobra, arguably the holy grail of climbs to any cycling holiday go’er. Whilst there earlier this year, I witnessed the fastest ascent by anyone on a TT bike, by Harry Palmer. Before he reached the 270 degree bend, I captured this shot of him. I have taken this photo before, but never without any cars, or with a clear sky behind. An iconic photo, for an iconic moment.”

Gary Main @garymainphotographer

"It’s Mark Cavendish, one of the greats, just after being interviewed after winning the British National Road Race Champs in Scotland. I enjoy watching him from behind the lens. He is so animated and engaging and one of the greatest sprinters to have ever graced the bike."

Amateur Category

For non-professional photographers using high-end cameras, and anyone with a smartphone or drone or action camera — we have the amateur category.

Suzan Debuysere @suzandbsr

"After damaging his back in a fall during the mountain bike race at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, I guess Mathieu van der Poel had the most difficult period of his career. He struggled but worked so hard, together with Roxanne [his girlfriend]. He won his second Ronde van Vlaanderen in April 2022. I focused on Roxanne, on how she was crying. Well, that says it all."

Filip Funk @filipfunkphoto

"The Vision Grand Prix at Jerry Baker Memorial Velodrome is a weekend full of exciting racing. This moment was towards the end of the first day. The sun had just gone down over the horizon, the stadium lights popped on, and these two spectators sat nicely at the edge of the track, with their bikes behind them. There was a Friday Night Lights football feeling to the end of the event that I really enjoyed and wanted to capture."

Glen Bucklar @gbvisi0n

"The riders are racing a state criterium championships. This photo is taken late in the morning when the sun was high and the light harsh. I have tried to use the contrast between shadows and highlights, and elements within the course to frame and compose the shot. Racing a crit is always about dark and light; wins and losses; gains and setbacks. This photo is about those things, it’s about racing."

 

Cédric Depraetere @cedricdepraetere

"Wout van Aert and Christophe Laporte after their first & second places at E3 Harelbeke 2022."

Craig Moir @the_lantern_rouge_

"My wife Lucie tackling the misty descent to Sa Calobra, Mallorca. Her first category one climb back to the top. May 2022."

Mat Gilfedder @matgilfedder

"Friday night crits under lights out at Ipswich Cycle Park, on a clear moonlit night."

David Gibson @davidgibsonphotography

"You wait so long and in a flash they are gone.” 

Saskia Martin. @saskiacmartin

"In the shadows. Cross racing at it hardest. Mud and pure grit."

Mateusz Birecki @mateuszbirecki

"Passo dello Stelvio is one of the many dreams of every cyclist. Being there is not only communing with the uphill road itself, but also with the amazing landscape that spreads around. This combination gives amazing feelings that are hard to describe. This year I took my partner there, who had not visited the mountains very often. It was hard, but these views – as in the presented photo – compensated for all the difficulties."

Gary Hibbert. @galerie_cycling

"Rohan Dennis, Commonwealth Games time trial champion 2022. A dramatic race around the streets of Wolverhampton, saw Australia’s Rohan Dennis crowned Commonwealth champion. Perfect weather and huge crowds made for a memorable occasion and a worthy winner."