Le Géant, Contemporary metal sculpture in Barèges, France
Le Géant is a contemporary metal sculpture in Barèges depicting a cyclist in a dynamic, dancing pose. The artwork stands roughly 3 meters tall and 2.4 meters long, weighing about 350 kilograms.
Artist Jean-Bernard Métais created this sculpture in 1995, with its official unveiling taking place on June 26, 1999. Bernard Hinault attended the ceremony, marking an important moment for cycling history in the region.
This sculpture honors the ninth cyclist in the Tour de France Pyrenees series and commemorates Octave Lapize, the first rider to cross Col du Tourmalet. The work reflects how the cycling community values those who conquered this mountain pass.
The sculpture typically stands at Col du Tourmalet during the Tour de France and relocates to Gerde for the rest of the year. Visitors can access it year-round, though its location changes seasonally.
After Col du Tourmalet underwent renovations in 2023, the sculpture returned to the mountain following a several-year absence that began in 2020. This comeback reflects how important the artwork remains to the region and its cycling heritage.
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