On January 2, Ignacio Belzunce left us, a numerary priest of the Opus Dei who dedicated 23 years of his life serving in Fomento schools. His availability to young people and their families was an example.
A simple and much loved man, Ignacio was also a passionate cyclist. His friends and students remember when he narrated his famous anecdote on the Jaizkibel, the famous mountain pass of San Sebastian. It was 92 or 93 and the next day the classic of San Sebastian was taking place. After a long day of pedaling, Ignacio was already exhausted when he was overtaken by two professional cyclists who were training, one of them Laurent Fignon, Tour de France champion in 1983. The French riders, with their characteristic jest, made fun of him as they left him behind.
When it seemed that everything would end with Ignacio defeated, an unexpected ally appeared: the famous Spanish cyclist Peio Ruiz Cabestany, to whom Ignacio told of the humiliation he had suffered. Pained by the situation, Peio told Don Ignacio not to be intimidated and to get ready to teach these gabachos a lesson. Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed him by the saddle and began to drag him up the mountain at full speed. Ignacio, between amazed and grateful, tried to catch his breath without touching the pedals.
A few meters from the summit, Peio let him go and urged him to return the blow: Ignacio, gathering all the strength he had left, launched a final sprint and passed the French like an exhalation. When he reached the summit, he concealed his exhaustion, waited for the cyclists and with a mischievous smile greeted them warmly. Only when the French continued on their way did Don Ignacio drop to the ground to recover from the effort.
At the end of this exciting narration, which he was able to describe in great detail, he compared what happened with the action of the grace God in our lives: "When you can't do it anymore, He takes you out of the saddle and carries you to the top".
Perhaps now that he sees us from heaven, we can see the life of Ignatius and listen to his encouragement to trust in divine grace, capable of overcoming the hardest stages and rivals.
Rest in peace, Ignacio. Enjoy the eternal summit.
*Article modified on 3/1/2025. 9:46h.
