 In 1989, Lejarreta captured the Volta a Catalunya repeating one of his first professional wins in 1980 at the same event.Lejarreta rode very well in the 1982 Vuelta, but initially finished 2nd to Ángel Arroyo while coming in just eighteen seconds ahead of Michel Pollentier.Following the race however, Pino and several other riders failed doping controls in one of the biggest scandals in Vuelta history making the young Basque rider the de facto winner of the race.