62nd Descent of the Sella
The 62nd edition of the International Descent of the Sella, held in 1998, was marked by acts of vandalism on the eve of the race: all 22 flags representing participating countries were stolen, 30 meters of the starting gates were destroyed, and even the official grandstand was damaged. These incidents caused widespread outrage, tarnishing the start of the event and forcing a quick reorganization to ensure the race could go ahead.
Despite these setbacks, the competition took place at a high level with 1,380 paddlers from many countries, reinforcing the Sella’s strong international appeal.
In the sporting results, Julio Martínez and Rafael Quevedo claimed victory in K2, cementing their dominance in the category with an excellent time. In K1, the win went to Alberto Llera, once again proving his talent as a solo specialist on the 20 km course, which despite the early troubles, delivered a spectacular show for the thousands of fans watching along the river between Arriondas and Ribadesella.
Why this edition is remembered:
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Unprecedented vandalism that threatened the tradition and prestige of the event.
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Massive participation with over 1,300 paddlers from around the world.
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Spanish dominance in both main categories: K2 and K1.
What happened in 1999? Click here
tag: international descent of the river sella 1998
