63rd Descent of the Sella
A total of 1,329 paddlers from 15 countries took part, underscoring strong international representation in this 63rd edition.
For the second consecutive year, the race was decided by the slimmest of margins: just one second separated the winners from their rivals. And once again, the victors were the same: Julio Martínez and Rafael Quevedo claimed victory with a time of 1 h 08 min 38 s, the fastest recorded at that time—according to the official Sella records.
The 20 km course was fast and tactical, aided by ideal river flow that allowed the Asturian pair to deliver a flawless final sprint under the Ribadesella bridge, thrilling the thousands of spectators who followed the event from the riverbanks and the famous train.
In the K1 category, Alberto Llera also repeated his triumph from the previous year, cementing his status as one of the race’s top specialists.
This double victory—with repeat winners in K2 and a consolidated champion in K1—combined with the high competitive level, made the 1999 Descent of the Sella one of the most memorable editions in the history of this celebrated canoeing festival.
What happened in 2000? Click here
tag: international descent of the river sella 1999
