Best sports photos of 2024: Photographers explain stories behind images
Tim de Vere: This striking photo was taken during the 2024 Clasica de Almeria in Spain, one of the early one-day races in the season. Unlike more rigorous competitions, this event offers more creative freedom and allows photographers to experiment.
This photo beautifully illustrates the unique “herd within a herd” – the cyclists blending in with the bare, cold trees to form their own natural group, symmetrical and harmonious. The Spanish winter backdrop, with its pastel tones and bare trees, contrasts with the bright colors of the main group, making the cyclists even more eye-catching.
Shooting from the back of a motorcycle traveling at 35 mph adds to the challenge, as riding photography often only offers one opportunity to capture a moment. Of the two local laps of the race, I spotted this spot from behind on the first lap. I thought it would be more compelling to capture the frontal scene on the second lap, and that’s how it all came together.