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Lejla Njemčević

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Lejla Njemčević
Njemčević in 2023
Personal information
BornLejla Tanović[1]
(1994-06-19) 19 June 1994 (age 32)[2]
Udine, Italy
EducationMaster of Laws (LL.M.)
MBA in Sports Law [3]
Height160 cm (5 ft 3 in)[2]
Weight53 kg (117 lb)
Websitewww.lejlamtb.ba
Sport
CountryBosnia and Herzegovina[2]
SportMountain bike racing
ClubKlub brdskog biciklizma "Puls"
TeamOrbea team
Turned pro
2014[4]
Coached byAmar Njemčević
Achievements and titles
Regional finals
6 time Balkan champion[5]
National finals
22 time National Champion[6]
Highest world ranking
1st on UCI ranking[7]
Personal best15 UCI World Cup medals[8]
Medal record
Women's cross-country cycling
Representing  Bosnia and Herzegovina
European Championships
Silver medal – second place2024 ViborgCross-country marathon
2023 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup
Gold medal – first place2023 Czech Republic
Silver medal – second place2023 Italy
Silver medal – second place2023 France
UCI Balkan Championship
Silver medal – second place2014 North MacedoniaU23
Silver medal – second place2015 Greeceelite
Gold medal – first place2016 Montenegroelite
Gold medal – first place2017 Greeceelite
Gold medal – first place2018 Romaniaelite
Gold medal – first place2019 Serbiaelite
Gold medal – first place2021 BiHelite
Gold medal – first place2026 Romaniaelite
Updated on 24 October 2023

Lejla Njemčević (née Tanović,[1] born 19 June 1994) is an Italian-born Bosnian mountain bike cyclist and cross-country marathon discipline specialist. Considered one of the most successful marathon cyclists in the world, she was the overall winner of the cross-country marathon at the 2023 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup,[9] and the overall winner of the 2022 UCI Mountain Bike Marathon Series.[10] Competing at the highest level of the sport, Njemčević holds a remarkable record of 15 medals at UCI World Cup races.[11]

She made history by becoming the first cyclist from Bosnia and Herzegovina to win a European Championship medal in any cycling discipline, securing the silver medal at the UEC 2024 European Mountain Bike Championships in Viborg, Denmark.[12]

Demonstrating sustained global dominance, she reached the number one position on the UCI World Ranking during three consecutive seasons in 2022[13], 2023[14], and 2024[15].

Competing at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow, the largest cycling event in history, Njemčević secured a historic 4th[16] place in the cross-country marathon despite airline logistical failures that left her without her bike until days prior to the event.

Lejla is as well the first ever mountain bike rider from the Bosnia and Herzegovina to sign a contract with a professional cycling team.[17] Lejla started racing at the age of 15 at local cycling club "Puls", which she continues to represent today.[18] Throughout her career she has won 43 races organised by the Union Cycliste Internationale.[19] Regionally and nationally, Lejla Njemčević is a 22 time National Champion in various disciplines,[20] and has won the Balkan Championships title six times, making her the most successful Balkan rider of all time.[21]

In August 2026, the sport documentary movie PRVA (The First) premiered at the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival, generating incredible high public interest[22]. Directed by Emina Daut and produced by Amar Njemčević. in production of Radio and Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the film chronicles Lejla career and her journey at the Cape Epic[23].

In recognition of her exceptional athletic achievements, Njemčević was awarded the State Award for Sport, the highest sporting honor in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[24] Lejla is a graduated student of Faculty of Law in Sarajevo with a master's degree in criminal law.[25]

Results

[edit]

Lejla is Bosnia and Herzegovina national champion at: cross-country (XCO), cross-country marathon (XCM), and cross-country eliminator (XCE).[26] During her career Lejla Njemčević has won total of 19 National Championships in all discipline. In the season 2022, she has won the Marathon World Series presented by the UCI, and claim the number 1 place on the UCI Marathon ranking list.[7] In the following year she has won the overall title of the UCI XCM World Cup, and wrote her name in cycling history of the cross country marathon discipline.[27] The result came after she won the opening round of the UCI XCM World Cup in Nove Mesto na Morave in Czech Republic[28] and followed by two second places in Finale Ligure, Italy and Morzine, France. On the final and fourth round of the XCM World Cup in Snowshoe, USA she won 4th place and overall World Cup title with huge point margin over the second place.[27]

Career

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Lejla Njemčević grew up in Sarajevo, while very young she showed passion for sport and cycling. After intense searching for a mountain bike racing club she started training with Amar Njemčević, one of the best cycling and condition coaches in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[29] After a few years of racing in national races, Tanović started her professional and international career in 2013.[30] She signed a professional contract with Turkish cycling team Salcano Cappadocia in 2014.[4] Lejla won three medals on Balkan championship races, in 2014 she was second in Macedonia[31] and also winning second place in Greece in 2015.[32] But in 2016 she won first gold medal in elite category for Bosnia and Herzegovina on Balkan championship in Montenegro.[33] After that victory she became most successful mountain bike rider in the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina.[34][35] After season 2015 and 2016 where she was riding for Salcano team from Turkey she signed for SMF Team from Greece for season 2017.[36] In season 2017 Tanović defended her Balkan champion title in Nafpaktos (Greece), this was her second straight time that she won Balkan title in elite category.[37] In 2018, Tanović defended her Balkan championship title at competition held in Romania [38] After her third successful Balkan championship defence, she won her fourth consecutive Balkan championship in 2019 in Serbia.[39] She was #1 on UCI MTB Cross-country ranking.[40]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 "Lejla Njemčević osvojila treće mjesto na utrci u Vodicama" [Lejla Njemčević won third place in the race in Vodice]. klix.ba (in Bosnian). 11 April 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2022. Lejla Njemčević (rođ. Tanović) [Lejla Njemčević (nee Tanović)]
  2. 1 2 3 "Lejla Tanovic". baku2015.com. Baku 2015 European Games. Archived from the original on 7 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  3. ↑ "Lejla Njemčević prva biciklstkinja svijeta" [Lejla Njemčević 1st on UCI ranking list]. womeninadria.ba (in Bosnian). 1 September 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Lejla Tanović potpisala ugovor za profesionalni biciklistički tim Salcano u Istanbulu" [Lejla Tanović signed a contract for the Salcano professional cycling team in Istanbul]. klix.ba (in Bosnian). 15 January 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  5. ↑ "Lejla Njemčević osvojila šesto zlato na Balkanskom prvenstvu i postala najuspješnija balkanska biciklistkinja ikad" [Lejla Njemčević won sixth Balkan Championships title and become all time best Balkan cyclist]. klix.ba. 15 August 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "My Goal is place in marathon history" [Lejla Njemčević goal is place in marathon history]. klix.ba (in Bosnian). 7 April 2025. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  7. 1 2 "Lejla Njemčević završila najuspješniju sezonu u karijeri" [Lejla Njemčević finished the most successful season in her career]. klix.ba (in Bosnian). 17 October 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  8. ↑ "Lejla Njemčević osvojila drugo mjesto na Svjetskom kupu u Italiji" [Lejla Njemčević won 2nd place at World Cup in Italy]. bljesak.info (in Bosnian). 10 May 2025. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  9. ↑ "Lejla Njemčević u SAD-u podigla trofej ukupnog pobjednika Svjetske serije" [Lejla Njemčević in the USA raised the trophy of the overall winner of the World Series]. klix.ba (in Bosnian). 28 September 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  10. ↑ "Lejla Njemčević ukupna pobjednica Svjetske maraton lige" [Lejla Njemčevič Overall winner Marathon World Series]. bikemagazin.info (in Bosnian). 28 September 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  11. ↑ "Lejla Njemčević osvojila historijsku 15 meadalju na Svjetskom kupu u Italiji" [Lejla Njemčević won 15th medal at World Cup in Italy]. sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 9 May 2026. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  12. ↑ "Lejla Njemčević osvojila srebrnu medalju na Evropskom prvenstvu" [Lejla Njemčević won silver medal at European Championships]. balkan.aljazeera.net (in Bosnian). 18 August 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  13. ↑ "Lejla Njemčević zauzela prvo mjesto na svjetskoj ranking listi" [Lejla Njemčević ranked 1st on UCI ranking list]. www.klix.ba (in Bosnian). 23 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "Lejla Njemčević se učvrstila na prvoj poziciji UCI ranking liste" [Lejla Njemčević strong leader on UCI ranking list list]. www.klix.ba (in Bosnian). 23 May 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "Lejla Njemčević prva na svjetskoj UCI maraton ranking listi" [Lejla Njemčević first on UCI marathon ranking list]. www.klix.ba (in Bosnian). 20 August 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "Lejla Njemčević zauzela 4. mjesto na Svjetskom prvenstvu" [Lejla Njemčević finished 4th at World Championships]. www.nap.ba (in Bosnian). 9 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "Odlična vijest za bh. biciklizam: Lejla Tanović potpisala ugovor za turski Salcano" [Great news for BiH. cycling: Lejla Tanović signed a contract with Turkish Salcano]. oslobodjenje.ba (in Bosnian). 15 January 2015. Archived from the original on 7 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  18. ↑ "Lejla Tanović najbolji takmičar Biciklističkog saveza BiH" [Lejla Tanović is the best competitor of the Cycling Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina]. klix.ba (in Bosnian). 23 December 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  19. ↑ "Lejla Njemčević career data". mtbdata.com. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  20. ↑ "Lejla Tanović: U biciklizmu je bitan svaki trening" [Lejla Tanović: Every training is important in cycling]. redbull.com/ba/bs (in Bosnian). 25 March 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  21. ↑ "Lejla Njemčević osvojila šesto zlato na Balkanskom prvenstvu i postala najuspješnija balkanska biciklistkinja ikad" [Lejla Njemčević won sixth Balkan Championships title and become all time best Balkan cyclist]. klix.ba. 15 August 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  22. ↑ "Lejla Njemčević i ekipa filma Prva pozirala na crvenopm tepihu SFF-a" [Lejla Njemčević and the crew of the movie The First posed at SFF red crpet]. klix.ba. 16 August 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  23. ↑ "U produkciji BHRT-a premijerno prikazan film Prva" [Movie The First premiered about Lejla Njemčević]. bhrt.ba. 16 August 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  24. ↑ "Lejli Njemčević uručena Državna nagrada za sport Bosne i Hercegovine" [Lejla Njemčević awarded State Award for sport in BiH]. klix.ba. 10 April 2026. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  25. ↑ "Lejla Tanović završila sezonu kao 71. biciklistkinja svijeta i ostvarila uspjeh karijere" [Lejla Tanović finished the season as the 71st female cyclist in the world and achieved career success]. klix.ba (in Bosnian). 23 October 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  26. ↑ "Lejla Tanovic". mtbcrosscountry.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  27. 1 2 "Marathon series champions crowned in the USA after epic final battle". ucimtbworldseries.com. UCI Mountain Bike World Series. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  28. ↑ "Lejla Njemčević dominantnom vožnjom osvojila Svjetski kup u Češkoj" [Lejla Njemčević won the World Cup in the Czech Republic with a dominant ride]. klix.ba (in Bosnian). 15 May 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  29. ↑ "Video profil: Upoznajte Lejlu Tanović". redbull.com/ba/bs (in Bosnian). Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  30. ↑ "Lejla Tanović osvojila prve UCI bodove na biciklističkoj utrci u Vodicama" [Lejla Tanović won the first UCI points at the cycling race in Vodice]. klix.ba (in Bosnian). 30 April 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  31. ↑ "Lejla Tanović postala viceprvakinja Balkanskog prvenstva u Makedoniji" [Lejla Tanović became the vice-champion of the Balkan Championship in Macedonia]. klix.ba (in Bosnian). 22 September 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  32. ↑ "Tanovićeva vicešampionka Balkana" [Tanović's vice-champion of the Balkans]. nezavisne.com (in Bosnian). 6 July 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  33. ↑ "Biciklizam: Lejla Tanović prvakinja Balkana" [Cycling: Lejla Tanović, champion of the Balkans]. nezavisne.com (in Bosnian). 11 July 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  34. ↑ "Najbolja bh. biciklistkinja Lejla Tanović, uspješno preko svih prepreka" [The best BiH cyclist Lejla Tanović, successfully over all obstacles]. nezavisne.com (in Bosnian). 19 January 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  35. ↑ "Lejla Tanović: Iza mene je najuspješnija sezona, cilj je plasman među 60 najboljih" [Lejla Tanović: The most successful season is behind me, the goal is to place among the top 60]. klix.ba (in Bosnian). 29 December 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  36. ↑ "Lejla Tanović potpisala ugovor s UCI timom SMF iz Grčke: Vrijeme je za uzbudljivu promjenu" [Lejla Tanović signed a contract with the UCI team SMF from Greece: It's time for an exciting change]. klix.ba (in Bosnian). 9 January 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  37. ↑ "Lejla Tanović odbranila balkansku titulu u Grčkoj" [Lejla Tanović defended the Balkan title in Greece]. klix.ba (in Bosnian). 17 July 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  38. ↑ "Lejla Tanović nakon povrede treći put osvojila Balkansko prvenstvo" [Lejla Tanović won the Balkan Championship for the third time after her injury]. klix.ba (in Bosnian). 16 July 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  39. ↑ "Lejla Tanović četvrti put balkanska prvakinja" [Lejla Tanović is the Balkan champion for the fourth time]. klix.ba (in Bosnian). 8 July 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  40. ↑ "Lejla Njemčević se učvrstila na prvoj poziciji UCI svjetske ranking listi" [Lejla Njemčević strengthened her position in the first position of the UCI world ranking list]. klix.ba (in Bosnian). 23 May 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
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