[[File:Ismael Lejarreta - unknown date.jpg|thumb|right|Ismael Lejarreta during his racing career.]]
Ismael Lejarreta Arana (born 25 February 1953) is a former Spanish professional [[road bicycle racer]] who competed from 1977 to 1985. He represented Spain at the [[1976 Summer Olympics]] in [[Montreal]], participating in the Men's Individual Road Race and the Men's Team Time Trial. Known for his strong [[climbing]] abilities, Lejarreta was a consistent performer in the [[Grand Tour]] [[Vuelta a España]], where he achieved multiple stage victories and high general classification finishes.
Early Life and Amateur Career
Born in [[Berriz]], [[Biscay]], [[Basque Country]], Spain, Ismael Lejarreta began his cycling career as an amateur. He quickly gained recognition for his aptitude in hilly and mountainous terrain. His participation in the 1976 Montreal Olympics marked a significant point in his amateur career before turning professional. He is the elder brother of [[Marino Lejarreta]], another highly successful Spanish cyclist.Professional Career
Lejarreta turned professional in 1977 with the KAS-Campagnolo team, a prominent Spanish squad of the era. Throughout his nine-year professional career, he rode for several well-known teams, including Teka, Hueso, and Alfa Lum-Olmo.His most notable achievements came in the [[Vuelta a España]], the Spanish Grand Tour:
- In the [[1980 Vuelta a España]], Lejarreta secured a significant stage victory on Stage 12 and finished an impressive 4th place in the general classification, marking his best career Grand Tour finish.
- He followed this with another strong performance in the [[1981 Vuelta a España]], finishing 7th overall.
- In the [[1983 Vuelta a España]], he added another stage win (Stage 18) to his palmarès.
Lejarreta also participated in the [[Tour de France]] and other European races, consistently demonstrating his capabilities as a strong [[domestique]] and a stage hunter, particularly in hilly stages. He retired from professional cycling at the end of the 1985 season.
Major Results
{| class="wikitable" |+ Major results |- ! Year ! Race ! Result |- | 1976 | [[1976 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games (Road Race)]] | 44th |- | 1980 | [[Vuelta a España]] | [[Stage 12, 1980 Vuelta a España|Stage 12 winner]] |- | 1980 | [[Vuelta a España]] | 4th General Classification |- | 1981 | [[Vuelta a España]] | 7th General Classification |- | 1983 | [[Vuelta a España]] | [[Stage 18, 1983 Vuelta a España|Stage 18 winner]] |}Teams
- 1977–1979: KAS-Campagnolo
- 1980–1981: Teka
- 1982: Hueso
- 1983: Alfa Lum-Olmo
- 1984: Teka
- 1985: Hueso-Maresa
Personal Life
Ismael Lejarreta is the older brother of [[Marino Lejarreta]], who is widely regarded as one of Spain's most successful cyclists, notably for being one of the few riders to have finished all three Grand Tours in the same year.See Also
- [[Marino Lejarreta]]
- [[Vuelta a España]]
References
[[Category:Spanish male cyclists]] [[Category:Road cyclists at the 1976 Summer Olympics]] [[Category:Cyclists from the Basque Country]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Biscay]] [[Category:1953 births]] [[Category:Living people]]