Feature image: Chris Auld | other photography as credited

We’re into the third week of the 2021 Mark Gunter Photographer of the Year Awards and the images being entered do not disappoint. Each week CyclingTips are filtering through the images to pick out the showcase.  It’s a seriously tough job.

This weeks showcase brings together a range of disciplines, angles, content, and photographers from all over the world.

Take the time to read the captions as they are an important part of the stories being entered.

And a little thank you to everyone who has entered — as every single entry is raising money for cancer research and going towards Young Cyclist Assistance.

Entries are open til January 5th, 2022 — but don’t wait — jump online now and be part of something special.

See images posted @cyclingtips and #markgunterphotoawards2021 and @markgunter.com.au

A complex cover Image by Chris Auld @cauldphoto in the Professional category: “At first glance, nothing unusual in this day and age, a guy wearing a face mask, take a closer look and you can see the reflection of a person in the sunglasses, look again and its Tadej Pogaçar wearing the Maillot Jaune and its not just any guy wearing the mask and glasses, its the father of the double Tour de France winner.”

Entry into the fiercely-contested Professional Cycling Photographer category is permitted to anyone who earns a living from their cycling photography.

“Bo, a stranger from the internet, agreed to ride the Baja Divide with me as a first date. Due to travel restrictions, I couldn’t visit her and she couldn’t visit me, but we could both go to Mexico to bikepack. On day 4 of our 10 week ride, while riding into Ojos Negros, we were passed by trucks leaving a dusty wake. A blazing sunset through the glare made for a dramatic scene.” Evan Christenson @evanchristenson

“Burglars on the road! This image was captured at Team Time Trial, on the last stage of the Tour or Margaret River, in Western Australia.” Daniela Tommasi @daniela_tommasi_photography

“Christopher Blevins is the first Men’s Short Track World Champion.” Javier Martínez de la Puente Azcárate @zubikophoto

“I was shooting an advertising campaign for an Helmet Brand. The weather was terrible so we choose to get to Bologna from Cervia and play with geometry of San Luca Hill” Gabriel Facciotti @gabrielefacciotti

“This past summer brought some of the most oppressive and dramatic heat to the Pacific North West the region has ever seen. Gravel roads turned to flour as mid-July hit, making early morning adventures a must to escape the middle-of-the-day temperatures.” Matthew Clark @stirlandraemediahaus

“Thibaut Nys post-race. Tough conditions forces riders to go into deep focus, to push boundaries. These are unique moments for a photographer to capture their emotions. Their expressions speak louder than words.” Rhode Van Elsen @rhode_photo

“This was shot in Cheddar Gorge, one of the more photogenic roads the UK has to offer. I had visited a week before and knew this would be a great spot. Thankfully the weather held for the shoot and the light played its part.” Matt Grayson @mattgrayson_photo

“A pre-ride portrait of Sir Brad Wiggins that captures his effortless rock and roll aura.” Gareth Winter @garethwinter

“The first-ever women’s edition of Paris Roubaix. Lizzie Deignan of team Trek-Segafredo after the finish in sheer disbelief at her amazing ride and achievement in treacherous conditions on the famous cobblestones of northern France. She is about to be engulfed by delirious members of her team, photographers, and TV crew. This was a split second of calm after the finish and before the encircle of the media where she could briefly reflect on what had just happened in the day.” Simon Gill @simongillphoto

“This is the second image of our Project Wolfsburg Shooting. We had two days alone in the center of Wolfsburg under the Phaeno Museum and tried to shoot new images.” Tom Schlegel @schlegto

“Going back to April 2021 this shot was taken at my very first sportive back since the lifting of restrictions in the UK. It was taken at Lepe Beach in the New Forest where the route skirted the coast before heading in land once again. A perfect spring morning shooting bikes in the spring sunshine.” Simon Edwards @mr_sedders_velo_and_run_photo

“Color film photo. I like to think of this as the essence of summer as the rider completes a wall ride on a clown bike over a can of beer. Good times had by all.” Carl Sechrist @csechrist1

Historic Riverton Crit. Lucky shot through the wheel. Ron Short @shortcycles

“We did our last golden hour photos in Quebec City and we were back to the Airbnb. While waiting at the red light, I asked my friends to ride under this illuminated marquise free of anything. At the time the first rider came in, the first car passed in front of the camera, the second time, it was a person who was getting out of the door, a taxi, a bus, etc. We finally wait so long to make a clean shot like this.” Julien Payette-Tessier @payette

“This is from stage 3 of Tour te Fjells, a stage race in Norway. A very rainy day in the mountains. I was heading for a spot to shoot but saw the trees, and immediately stopped. The peloton was not far behind me, so I ran through the bushes, and made it just in time.” Jørgen Mo @moern

“Grit. Determination. Effort. Cycling encompasses all of those words in the simple act of turning the pedals. Pushing and striving for faster times, higher climbs, and that unreachable perfection. Monsal Hillclimb is a short effort, too long to sprint but too short to pace. It’s an all-out effort that sees riders bury themselves for the fastest time. As they emerge through the dappled light in the trees, they are faced with an amphitheater, full of people cheering their names. This is pure racing.” Josh Heaton @onlyjoshing_

“Sara Penton, her very last dance of a long career. Sara decided to retire right after Paris Roubaix. And it was her face the second she arrived. As I know her personally, this was a super touching moment, it was like a super ball of emotion hitting you straight into the face. It was a mix of admiration, being proud, amazed about what this girl just did.” Bastien Gason @bastiengason

“Memory gravel is an event taking place on the front of the First World War on the Asiago Plateau. It was late October and this was the highest part of the route, already covered in snow. We happened to witness one of the best sunsets of the year.” Federico Damiani @damianifed

“Marianne Vos, covered in mud, tries to catch her breath on the wet pavement after the finish of a rainy World Cup Fayetteville.” Gavin Gould @gvngld

For more information on the #markgunterphotoawards2021 check out CyclingTips and Mark Gunter Photography.