Marino Lejarreta

Born:	May 12, 1957
Place of Birth:	Berriz, Basque Country, Spain
Nationality:	Spanish
Height:	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight:	68 kg (150 lb)
Discipline:	Road
Professional Career:	1980-1992

Marino Lejarreta, a retired Spanish professional road cyclist, was born in Berriz, Basque Country, Spain, on May 12, 1957. From 1980 through 1992, he enjoyed a prosperous cycling career. Lejarreta was renowned for his climbing skills, particularly on rocky terrain, and was regarded as one of the greatest climbers of his era.

Lejarreta began his professional cycling career in 1980 with the Orbea team. In 1982, he won the Tour of the Basque Country, marking his breakthrough season. He subsequently won this event twice more, in 1983 and 1984. In 1982, he won his first of six Tour de France stages over the course of his career.

Lejarreta was a regular participant in the Grand Tours and won a total of three stages in the Tour de France, three in the Vuelta a España, and two in the Giro d’Italia. He never won a Grand Tour overall but finished in the top 10 of the Tour de France four times, with his best result being sixth in 1985.

Lejarreta won several one-day events in addition to his Grand Tour victories, including the Clásica de San Sebastián in 1981 and 1982 and the Giro di Lombardia in 1984. In 1981 and 1982, he also won the Spanish National Road Race Championships.

After retiring from professional cycling in 1992, Lejarreta became the Euskaltel-Euskadi team’s directeur sportif, a position he held until 2001.

Marino Lejarreta’s Greatest Achievements:

Year	Achievement
1982	Winner, Tour of the Basque Country
1983	Winner, Tour of the Basque Country
1984	Winner, Tour of the Basque Country
1985	6th place overall, Tour de France
1988	Winner, Stage 20, Tour de France
1989	Winner, Stage 12, Giro d’Italia
1991	Winner, Stage 14, Vuelta a España