2025 is drawing to a close which means it’s time for one of our favourite annual traditions: the Mark Gunter Photo Awards (MGPA).
Held every December and into the following January, the MGPAs honour the life and legacy of the renowned Australian cycling photographer, Mark Gunter. Mark tragically died in November 2015 after a battle with oesophageal cancer, leaving behind his wife Leeanne, their young son Lucas, plus a portfolio of amazing work.
Escape Collective is proud to be partnering with Leeanne once again to deliver what is the 10th edition of the MGPAs. These awards ensure that Mark’s significant contribution to the cycling community is commemorated and that a spotlight is shone on the best cycling photographs of the year, all while supporting a wonderful charity.
Mark in action at the 2011 Tour de France.
Thousands of amazing submissions have been made to the MGPAs over the years, from professional and amateur photographers alike. We’re certain 2025 will continue that trend.
For this year’s awards, entrants can submit photos in one of three main categories:
- Professional
- Amateur
- Smartphone (first photo submitted for free)
If you submit an entry and are an Escape member you’ll automatically be in the running for some additional prizes thanks to POC.
All photos submitted to the competition must have been taken this year, and have some sort of connection with cycling. Photos that fall under the umbrella of gravity mountain biking – downhill and enduro – are excluded as there are other competitions better suited to photographers of these disciplines.
As ever, the winners in the Professional and Amateur categories will be judged by a panel of professional photographers. In the Professional category, there’s both prestige and the perpetual trophy to compete for. Meanwhile, those entering photos in the Amateur category will be in the running for some fantastic prizes courtesy of Ritchey, Albion, and Feedback Sports.
Prizes aren’t the only reason to take part in the MGPAs. Funds raised from entry fees – AU$10, or roughly US$6.50 / €6 / £5 per photo – will be donated to cancer research through Australian charity Tour de Cure. If you’d like to support Tour de Cure’s fundraising efforts without entering the competition, you can do so by voting for your favourite photos – each vote after your first requires a donation. The most popular photos across the Professional, Amateur, and Smartphone categories (Fan Favourites) will be awarded cash prizes. (You can also donate directly to the cause, if you prefer).
Entries are now open (as of 10am on Saturday December 6, 2025, AEDT) and will close at 11pm on Sunday January 4, 2026 (AEDT). Throughout that period, we’ll have regular galleries on Escape showcasing the many great photos that will surely be coming in. We’ll also be posting photos on Instagram using the hashtag #markgunterphotoawards2025. The winners will be announced on Wednesday January 21, 2026.
We look forward to seeing all of your wonderful photos!
PrizesProfessional prizes
🥇Mark Gunter Photographer of the Year Award perpetual trophy + gold medallion
🥈Mark Gunter Photographer of the Year Award silver medallion
🥉Mark Gunter Photographer of the Year Award bronze medallion
Honour roll
2024: Léon van Bon
2023: Pauline Ballet (France) / Harry Talbot (New Zealand)
2022: Bram Berkien (Netherlands)
2021: Sean Hardy (United Kingdom)
2020: Chris Auld (United Kingdom)
2019: Alex Broadway (United Kingdom)
2018: Dario Belingheri (Italy)
2017: Tim Bardsley-Smith (Australia)
2016: Wouter Roosenboom (Netherlands)
Amateur prizes
🥇Ritchey WCS Zeta GX tubeless-ready gravel wheelset (US$675)
🥈£500 Albion voucher (US$665)
🥉Feedback Sports Sport Mechanic 2.0 Bike Repair Stand (US$250)
Escape Member prizes
🥇POC Cytal Helmet + Elicit Toric Sunglasses (total value US$690)
🥈POC Elicit Toric Sunglasses (US$320)
🥉POC Ultra Snack Bag x 2 (US$136)
Fan Favourites
🥇AU$500
🥈AU$250
🥉AU$100
Judges
The esteemed professional photographers who will judge this year’s competition are as follows:
Léon van Bon is living proof that the eye of a cyclist can become the eye of a photographer. Son of a teaching filmmaker with a celebrated career as a professional rider, he raced Classics, Grand Tours, and won Olympic silver in Barcelona. He bought his first analog camera at the World Championships in communist Moskou. Later Léon shifted from life inside the peloton to life behind the lens. His photography carries the same intuition he once used to read a race: timing, tension, and raw emotion. As winner of the 2024 Mark Gunter Photo Awards, Léon returns this year as a judge bringing humility, insight, and deep respect for the many beauties of cycling.
Michael Blann made many us all look at mountains differently. His iconic book Mountains: Epic Cycling Climbs (also known as Cols) displays a unique creative approach. It revealed the silence, scale, and spirit of the places that shape them. He too is a former professional cyclist turned fine-art photographer. As such Michael brings a rare duality: he knows what it takes to climb, and what it takes to capture the feeling of the climb. We’re proud to welcome Michael to this year’s jury.
Bio coming soon.
Competition rules
Follow the link for detailed rules for the 2025 Mark Gunter Photo Awards.
The best of 2024
To get inspired for this year’s photo awards, be sure to check out the best photos from last year:
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