A festive feast of Procycling's portraits as shot by Jesse Wild
Image 1 of 23
This image of Thor Hushovd became the cover of the November issue(Image credit: Procycling)
(Image credit: Procycling)
The Procycling man of the year: Mark Cavendish(Image credit: Procycling)
Procycling always get the best out of Cavendish at photoshoots. This took place in October in our London studio(Image credit: Procycling)
Vincenzo Nibali had a great year; strong at the Giro and unbeatable at the Vuelta(Image credit: Procycling)
Oscar Pereiro won the Tour in 2006 but retired at the end of this season. He's now a soccer player(Image credit: Procycling)
Nicholas Roche shows off a little too much for the Procycling photographer(Image credit: Procycling)
Carlos Saste is always happy to share his opinion(Image credit: Procycling)
Great double act: Frank and Andy Schleck play up for the camera(Image credit: Procycling)
The two sides of the Schlecks: Frank and Andy earlier in the year(Image credit: Procycling)
Alberto Contador shares a joke with Peter Cossins at the Tour of Algarve(Image credit: Procycling)
Alberto Contador strikes a pose for Procycling's Tour de France preview. A few months later he would win the Tour but test positive for Clenbuterol(Image credit: Procycling)
Radioshack had to make drastic cut back on their wind tunnel testing this year(Image credit: Procycling)
Tyler Farrar in relaxed mood in the studio ahead of his shoot(Image credit: Procycling)
Michael Rogers had his best year yet and told Procycling that he almost quit the sport last year(Image credit: Procycling)
(Image credit: Procycling)
(Image credit: Procycling)
Daniel Friebe and Mark Cavendish talk about his difficult start to the season(Image credit: Procycling)
Mark Cavendish steadies himself before his shoot(Image credit: Procycling)
Now with Geox, Carlos Sastre was part of our Procycling Tour de France cover(Image credit: Procycling)
Vande Velde(Image credit: Procycling)
Christian Vande Velde (Image credit: Procycling)
Tyler Farrar photographed earlier in the season(Image credit: Procycling)
The year may be drawing to a close but that hasn't stopped the staff at Cyclingnews and Procycling from putting down the mince pies and eggnog to hunt through archives from this year's magazine photo shoots.
Jesse Wild, our resident photographer spent almost the same amount of time on the road as most pros, travelling from race to race in a hunt to take some of the best cover shoots in the magazine's history. From the Algarve in the Spring to Lombardia in October, via the Giro, and even Fabian Cancellara's house, it's been a whirlwind adventure.
We've brought together some of Jesse's best work that didn't make it into the magazine.
A word from Jesse
Photographing for Procycling 2010 was like a tour in itself, a tour of tours. Planes, trains and automobiles, working in so many hotel lobbies, street sides, grabbing riders as they step of buses and even going to their private homes. The elements were harsh this year and often riders were exhausted after a race, just when I needed to photograph them.
I waited for five hours in a hotel reception for one rider but then he started to sway as if falling asleep after having the hardest day ever in the Giro. In the end I got about 20 shots, which isn't a lot for a cover. Having started at 4.30am that day myself, I shot him at 10pm. I then had to drive 12 hours to Monaco. Fortunately I had a really pleasurable shoot with Thor Hushovd at his home to finally finish the big Tour de France cover. That was a great feeling and I celebrated with a pizza on the seafront in beautiful sunshine.
It was so nice to shoot Hushovd again in the rainbow jersey a few months later and congratulate him on his victory. My Final big shoot of the year was with Mark Cavendish for the Man of the year. He again seemed chuffed with his achievements and performed brilliantly for the camera.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Having seen first hand what the riders go through, it is an honour being given the opportunity to photograph them.
