December 28, 2024
It’s become a tradition: every year, I submit images to the Mark Gunter Photo Awards. I’ve just done so for the 2024 edition and, as every year too, I don’t stand a chance against the talented photographers from all over the world – some of Tour de France and WorldTour fame – who take part in this competition.
My motivation lies elsewhere: above all, I’m happy to see the work of fellow photographers and to find inspiration in it. The jury tends to choose racing photos, showing raw emotions and action; I lean towards landscape photography and often end up shooting small cyclists on winding roads with a big mountain background. So it’s an incentive to get out of my comfort zone and try something different.
I’m also pleased to support an initiative by the fine people at Escape Collective in honor of Mark Gunter, an Australian photographer who passed away far too soon.
Selecting my photos for the competition is also a way of revisiting my year and reliving fond memories. My Strava says I’ve ridden 10’359km km so far this year: that describes the quantity of cycling I’ve done. My photos are there to tell me about the quality of the time I’ve spent on my bike: regions I’ve discovered, long days out with friends, unexpected beauty in familiar places.
Here is a selection of my favorite images, some of which I submitted to the Mark Gunter Photo Awards. I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I enjoyed shooting them.
Alain
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Coming down Col du Pillon just after Saanen: spring ride with Nathalie and Alex on the route of the UCI Granfondo Suisse
In June, the Tour de Suisse had its final weekend in Villars-sur-Ollon, just a few kilometers from my home. All the local Strava leaderboards were destroyed and I was able to capture a few photogenic pain faces.
Climbing the Semnoz from the quiet, scenic side on a summer trip to Annecy
Céline and Vincent coming down from Les Chaux above my house in Gryon
Autumn vibes with my buddy Luca on the climb from the Rhone valley to our village of Gryon in the Alpes Vaudoises. Strava tells me I’ve been here 329 times since 2010…
From a late autumn ride in the Dents du Midi region, just across the Rhone valley from my house. It was getting late and we did not have much time to leave the mountains before dark. “One more” I told my buddy Luca. I had my shot, and we finished our ride well after sunset. A good adventure.
I love the challenge of always looking for new angles and being creative on the same section of road. With my friend Luca, it’s also an excuse to take a break at the end of our rides in the valley that inevitably finish with a 10 km climb to get home.
Peak autumn colors with Lillie in Austria’s Salzburg region
Checking out the course of the UCI Gravel Suisse in Villars-sur-Ollon with the LSN GRVL crew – and a trail side spectator
At the tail end of autumn, every ride in the Alpes Vaudoises, our local mountains, feels like the last one before winter settles in. This ascent of the Col de la Croix was truly the last and we enjoyed it until the very last light. Shortly afterwards, bad weather arrived and the road was closed to make way for the skiers.
