The 17th Annual Bicycle Travel Photo Contest
From salt flats to summit passes, our community captured the moments that make bike travel unforgettable. But that doesn’t mean that, when we look back on this year’s winners in another 50 years, they won’t look as delightfully dated as our Bikecentennial photos do today.
Around Camp
WINNER
TITLE: “NIGHT ON THE SALAR”
PHOTO BY: CLOTAIRE MANDEL
LOCATION: SALAR DE UYUNI, BOLIVIA
CAPTION: “If there is one awaited spot for most cyclists on this planet, it’s the Salar de Uyuni salt flats. We allowed an extra night just to make sure we soaked in this unique place.”
RUNNER UP
TITLE: “SLEEPING ON ROUTE 66”
PHOTO BY: JULIEN & MARIE-LIESSE
LOCATION: NEWBERRY SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
CAPTION: “We weren’t particularly drawn to ride Route 66, yet we discovered a world frozen in time. Abandoned cafes and gas stations stood silent, while locals keep the spirit of these iconic places alive with passion.”
HONORABLE MENTION
TITLE: “BONDING OVER A TRIP”
PHOTO BY: BELÉN CASTELLÓ
LOCATION: LANZAROTE, CANARY ISLANDS, SPAIN
CAPTION: “Mel and I met last summer at a bikepacking event. When I mentioned my fall plans to ride through the Canary Islands, she didn’t hesitate to ask if she could join. A few weeks later, we met in Lanzarote and set off on a two-week tour together – a small gamble for two people who barely knew each other. But sometimes trusting your intuition is the best plan, and this time, it paid off.”
Cover Shot
WINNER
TITLE: “UNDER THE ROCCA LA MEJA PEAK”
PHOTO BY: SCOTTY CORNISH
LOCATION: GARDETTA PLATEAU, ITALY
CAPTION: “On the last few kilometers to the Rifugio Gardetta, you ride under the shadow of the sharp 2,831-meter peak of Rocca la Meja.”
RUNNER UP
TITLE: “INTO THE VOID”
PHOTO BY: ARMANDA ROCO
LOCATION: HUASCARÁN LOOP, CORDILLERA BLANCA, PERU
CAPTION: “Pure bliss riding down the Portachuelo de Llanganuco mountain pass with these views.”
First Bike Adventure
WINNER
TITLE: “HOT BUT WORTH THE MOVE”
PHOTO BY: CLOTAIRE MANDEL
LOCATION: VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK, NEVADA
CAPTION: “A quick loop in the Valley of Fire State Park. Every day in the U.S. keeps surprising us.”
RUNNER UP
TITLE: “ALPINE BIKE ROUTE, SWITZERLAND”
PHOTO BY: SCOTTY CORNISH
LOCATION: THE SWISS ALPS
CAPTION: “The Alpine Bike route, or Route National #1, is a 670-kilometer, signposted MTB bikepacking route in Switzerland, from Scuol in the east to Aigle in the west. Or vice versa.”
En Route
WINNER
TITLE: “NAVIGATING THE CHAOS”
PHOTO BY: BELÉN CASTELLÓ
LOCATION: SA PA, VIETNAM
CAPTION: “Cycling in Vietnamese cities can feel chaotic, but there’s a rhythm to it. Once you’re in traffic, it’s like a river flowing through the streets — follow the current, and it works. The tricky part is getting on or off the flow, but that’s all part of the experience! I loved the intensity and energy of Vietnamese city life!”
RUNNER UP
TITLE: “TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS”
PHOTO BY: DON NEIFERT
LOCATION: GRANTS, NEW MEXICO
CAPTION: “As good a place as any to part with a pesky pebble. Southbound on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route near Grants, New Mexico.”
HONORABLE MENTION
TITLE: “SUE CLIMBING AWAY FROM MOUNT ROBSON”
PHOTO BY: JOHN HOUSTON MILLER
LOCATION: YELLOWHEAD HIGHWAY, BRITISH COLUMBIA
CAPTION: “A photo taken on Week 3 of a six-week ride from Missoula, Montana, to Talkeetna, Alaska.”
People and Portraits
WINNER
TITLE: “LEARNING FROM ONE ANOTHER”
PHOTO BY: JULIEN & MARIE-LIESSE
LOCATION: ESCALANTE, UTAH
CAPTION: “On technical roads, slowness becomes part of the journey. We take turns pushing the bikes, helping each other forward – discovering that these quiet, patient moments are often the most beautiful.”
RUNNER UP
TITLE: “HALFWAY THERE”
PHOTO BY: BRANDON COTE
LOCATION: JACKSON, WYOMING
CAPTION: “Over 1,500 miles into the GDMBR, I found myself in the tranquility of the Grand Tetons. The stark transition from basin to mountains inspired me to keep pushing north.”
