The Art of Suffering: honest photographs capture the brutal beauty of road cycling

For those who've been excited by the cycling at the Olympics, a new book by world-class pro-cycling photographer Kristof Ramon (known as Kramon) offers a visceral glimpse into the heart of this punishing sport. The Art of Suffering: Capturing the Brutal Beauty of Road Cycling is a visual testament to the courage, pain and triumph that define professional cycling today.

Because while it might not seem obvious to the uninitiated, this is actually quite a merciless arena. Any hardened two-wheeler will tell you immediately to adhere to rule number five: 'Harden the fuck up' (often shortened to HTFU). And my goodness, many of us will remember some of the most famous, bone-jarring crashes of our time.

Kramon's lens has documented many of these intense moments in recent cycling history. His work reminds us of infamous incidents like Giuseppe Guerini's collision with a spectator on Alpe d'Huez in 1999, Joseba Beloki's horrific fall that ended his career in 2003, or Mark Cavendish's numerous high-speed tumbles, which have become part of Tour de France lore.

But it's not just the spectacular accidents that Kramon captures. His ability to reveal the quiet moments of agony, the grimaces of determination on a brutal mountain climb, or the camaraderie between riders in the peloton sets him apart as one of the greatest cycling photographers in the world.

Unprecedented access

Kramon began his career as a filmmaker but for the last 14 years has focused exclusively on cycling photography, covering all the major races, from the classics – such as Paris-Roubaix, the Tour of Flanders and the Strade Bianche – to the major tours: the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France and la Vuelta a España.

This 14-year dedication to the sport has earned him unprecedented access and trust among teams and riders, allowing him to capture intimate, behind-the-scenes images that few others can. His talent for storytelling and his ability to capture the atmosphere and raw emotion of racing make his images stand out from typical sports photography.

Ultimately, The Art of Suffering isn't just a book for cycling fans; it's a celebration of the human spirit that can inspire us all.

Through his lens, we gain a deeper appreciation for the sport, the athletes who devote their lives to mastering it, and the stark realities and fleeting beauty of cycling. More fundamentally, we appreciate the paradox at the heart of many sports and much of life itself: the deeper the suffering, the more profound the moments of triumph.

Spirited foreword

The book's foreword is penned by none other than Wout van Aert, the Belgian cycling superstar known for his versatility and grit. A three-time cyclo-cross world champion and multiple Tour de France stage winner, Van Aert embodies the spirit of Rule #5.

These words lend authenticity to the collection as he reflects on the pain and glory captured in Kramon's images, including a striking photo of himself after his first Strade Bianche race that graces the book's cover.

He writes, "There are plenty of individual sports where you inflict brutal pain on yourself. There aren't many sports where you hurt yourself while at the same time competing against your rivals shoulder to shoulder. That's why suffering is such a big part of cycling."

He goes on to say that photographs can be deceptive. "They can make it look like you're standing still when you are actually descending at 100 kph. They can make a bitterly cruel race look enchantingly pretty and peaceful. The photographs I like are the ones that do justice to the moment. They're the ones that reward a long look." Wout adds that it's an honour to be on the book's cover in a picture taken after his first Strade Bianche. "Every time I look at it, I feel the pain all over again," he says.

Through 250 brutal and beautiful images, Kramon's work celebrates not just the physical challenges of cycling but the indomitable human spirit that drives these athletes to push beyond their limits.

From the punishing ascents of the Giro d'Italia to the bone-rattling cobbles of Paris-Roubaix, this book offers an unparalleled look into a sport where suffering is not just expected but revered.

In short, it's a compelling tribute to a sport that continually tests the boundaries of human endurance. And it's a reminder that in cycling, as in life, sometimes you must simply harden up and pedal on, no matter the obstacles in your path.