The new year is nearly upon us which means entries are almost closed for the 2025 Mark Gunter Photo Awards. In the three weeks since the competition began, we’ve had all manner of amazing photos come in – breathtaking landscapes, intimate portraits, gripping action shots; you name it. In this gallery we’ll feature some of the images that caught our eye over the past week, from the Professional category, and the Amateur & Smartphone categories.
If you’re just hearing about the Mark Gunter Photo Awards for the first time, here’s what you need to know. Now into its 10th year, the Awards are a celebration of the life of respected Australian cycling photographer Mark Gunter who tragically lost his life to oesophageal cancer in 2015. The Awards also celebrate the best cycling photography of the year that’s been, while raising funds for Australian cancer charity Tour de Cure in the process.
If you’ve got some photos you’d like to enter into the competition, we’d love to see them! Just head to Mark’s website for everything you need to know. Entries close at 11 pm on Sunday January 4, 2026 (AEDT).
Before we dive into this week’s gallery, be sure to check out the week one and week two showcases if you haven’t already.
Professional category
The image shows the Italian women’s team moments before the team pursuit at the 2025 European Track Championships in Heusden-Zolder (Belgium). What I like about the picture is that it shows determination, team spirit, and emotional readiness – a moment when togetherness builds confidence just before the decisive effort on the track. | Photo by Marcel Hilger (@marcelhilger)
I thought about the possibility of this pic on Friday but there were a lots of “ifs”. If there is an amazing crowd, if the rider is above the crowd, if it’s not raining or foggy … I tried it on the first lap, looked at the result … totally missed it! But I found a small gap in the crowds thanks to a kid and decided to change my plans to stay one more lap and try again. You’ve just seen the result – this pic made my day! | Photo by Geoffrey Tiercelin (@Yefrifotos)
After a grueling, mud-soaked World Cup race in Terralba, Lucinda Brand steps into the harbor waters among moored boats, rinsing off the remnants of cyclocross chaos in a scene as raw as the sport itself. | Photo by Gaëtan Flamme (@gaetan_sportpic)
This might be one of the only – if not the only – entry that’s shot on film. Expired film even, but that doesn’t seem to affect the photo luckily. Starting in Al Plan di Mareo is the gravel road of your dreams. Winding through meadows filled with cows, in between giant mountains and rock walls it goes up with a gentle gradient. But when you hit the Refugio Pederü things change quickly: big rocky gravel, gradients that go up to 20%; but the views are worth it. Pictured here is one of the first steep switchbacks of this gravel pass, while the Pederü refugio is in the background. The soft afternoon light makes the mountains even more magical and dreamy. | Photo by Merlijn Spenkelink (@Merlingraphy)
Paris-Roubaix Junior Seth Jackson finishes his first attempt at this gruelling race and heads over to the famous shower block to relax and contemplate what had been. | Photo by Phil Crow (@philcrowphoto)
I feel that my style as a photographer stems from growing up skateboarding and shooting skate photography. On the way to meet up for a ride, I rolled past this early morning light shining underneath the highway, and it caught my eye. It reminded me of an old skate photo taken by a photographer I’ve always admired. I went back the following morning, around the same time, to shoot it with a friend of mine. It feels like an ode to that photographer, while also being an ode to skateboarding. | Photo by Josh Becker (@mybucketsgottaholeinit)
Ollie Smith falling at Deadman’s Corner, a classic Tuesday night London Criterium, with some challenging corners, like this. | Photo by Mark James (@markovichjames)
Riders move through the Stormberg region during Gravel Burn 2025, South Africa. Dust, distance, and rugged terrain define the course as the race cuts across remote landscapes and local boundaries. | Photo by Paul Danse (@gansepaul)
The peloton defying wind and rain during the sixth stage of La Vuelta Femenina. | Photo by Eloise Mavian (@eloisemavian)
I didn’t take this picture by chance. Lay awake. Left early. Rang the doorbells of strangers. Waited six hours. Held it for a fraction of a second. Rue Lepic became Rue Épic. | Photo by Jasper Jacobs (@jacobsjasper)Amateur & Smartphone categories
On day two of our trip along the Tian Shan traverse in Kyrgyzstan, we tackled the infamous Djuku Pass. We camped by the lake in the image, at the bottom of the final climb. As we had our breakfast, we could see what lay ahead of us. The path was steep, the boulders were large and jagged, and our bikes were loaded with five days’ worth of food, which made for a rather fun morning of hike-a-bike. The views at the top were well worth it. | Photo by Alan Danby (@alandanbyphoto)
Behind the scenes at Road Worlds in Rwanda, Magadeleine Vallieres has not realized yet that she is the new world champion. | Photo by Yves Perret (@yves_perret)
I was cheering for some friends at the Sea Otter Europe gravel race when I found this spot creating some beautiful contrast between shadows and lights. Tiffany Cromwell’s Australian champion’s kit fits perfectly in this photo. | Photo by Iván Rodríguez (@rodrig_ivan)
The terrain even takes out the elites in Antwerp. | Photo by Saskia Martin (@saskiacmartin)
(Smartphone image) Kinda expected this ride on a mid-April day in Southern Norway to be bland and uninspiring. Then I opened my eyes and fired up the phone cam. Even in grey, misty, soggy, low-light conditions, good shots are out there! | Photo by Mik Stegger
Pulling a big turn in the 20-lap Scratch Race. Anna Meares Velodrome, Australia. | Photo by Mat Gilfedder (@matgilfedder)
I had completely psyched myself out of shooting at Muddy Hell. I don’t ever shoot with flash, and it’s a fair schlep to potentially walk away with nothing. I went knowing it would be an amazing evening, that I’d see friends (or at least spend most of the evening trying to work out what they were dressed as) and in the knowledge that if I didn’t start somewhere with flash I would never learn. | Photo by Alex Rout (@agr9)
I love that the rider is smiling coming around turn three at the Gateway Cup in St. Louis, Missouri. | Photo by Daniel Singer (@dansingerphotography)
Almost hidden by the giant dust cloud, I shot Pogačar’s rainbow at the very last moment while he was racing Strade Bianche on sector 5 in Lucignano d’Asso. | Photo by Alessandro Federico (@alefederico_sport)
Silhouettes of cyclocross riders climbing a frozen section of the course, surrounded by spectators during the Cyclocross World Cup in Tabor. | Photo by Tomasz Śmietana
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