Statue of Federico Martín Bahamontes
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| 39°51′41″N 4°01′19″W / 39.861372222222°N 4.0218527777778°W | |
| Location | Paseo del Miradero, Toledo, Spain |
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| Designer | Javier Molina Gil |
| Material | Bronze |
| Opening date | 6 May 2018 |
| Dedicated to | Federico Martín Bahamontes |
The Statue of Federico Martín Bahamontes is an instance of public art located in Toledo, Spain. It consists of a bronze statue representing Federico Martín Bahamontes, winner of the 1959 Tour de France and adoptive son of the city of Toledo.
History and description[edit]
Promoted and funded by the Fundación Soliss, the statue is a work by the Valencian sculptor Javier Molina Gil.[1][2] It represents Federico Martín Bahamontes, the Eagle of Toledo, a celebrated cyclist and Adoptive Son of the City of Toledo.[3] The bronze base on which the statue stands incorporates a die-cut coat of arms of the city, featuring the characteristic double-headed eagle.[4]
Cast in bronze, it attempts to depict a peak Bahamontes, while riding the 1959 Tour de France.[5] The statue is slightly bigger in height than real-life Federico Martín Bahamontes (1.90 vs 1.77 m).[6] Bahamontes reportedly collaborated with the author in the design of the statue,[6] letting the sculptor to obtain accurate biometric data.[7]
Installed in the Paseo del Miradero, in the centre of the city, it was unveiled on 6 May 2018, during a ceremony attended by Bahamontes himself (aged 89 at the time of the inauguration)[8] as well as by Miguel Indurain, Pedro Delgado and Carlos Sastre.[5] Mayor Milagros Tolón had reportedly let Bahamontes choose the location for his statue.[2]
After a vandal attack, the statue appeared toppled from its base on 28 July 2019, with one broken wheel and other damaged pieces.[9] It was temporarily removed from the public space. It was reinstated to its original location, with reinforcements, in September 2019.[10]
References[edit]
- ^ Dávila, Jaime (28 July 2019). "Aparece destrozada la estatua de Bahamontes en Toledo". As.
- ^ a b Arribas, Carlos (6 May 2018). "Bahamontes ya es de bronce en Toledo". El País.
- ^ "Federico Martín Bahamontes tendrá desde hoy una estatua en Toledo". Efe. 6 May 2018.
- ^ "Federico Martín Bahamontes tendrá desde hoy una estatua en Toledo". Eurosport. 6 May 2018.
- ^ a b Río, César del (6 May 2018). "Bahamontes corona a los 90 años la cima de "su" Toledo y ya es un mito viviente". En Castilla-La Mancha.
- ^ a b "Toledo dedica a Bahamontes una estatua casi a tamaño real". As. 2 May 2018.
- ^ "La estatua de homenaje de Toledo a Bahamontes, en su recta final". ABC. 13 January 2018.
- ^ "Bahamontes, el retorno". ABC. 8 May 2018.
- ^ "Destrozan la estatua de bronce homenaje a Federico Martín Bahamontes en Toledo". El Confidencial. 28 July 2019.
- ^ "La estatua de Bahamontes regresa al paseo del Miradero". La Tribuna de Toledo. 10 September 2019.