Argentine paddlers dominated the competitive waters of Asturias as Franco Balboa triumphed in the K-1 category and the pairing of Juan Ignacio Cáceres and Agustín Ratto claimed victory in the K-2 division at the 35th Regata Internacional de Villaviciosa. Held along the picturesque El Puntal estuary zone in northern Spain, the milestone edition of the historic race drew a large international contingent of nearly 280 athletes to test their endurance and technical mastery against challenging coastal currents and tactical river sections.
Asturian Waters Play Host to International Talent
This year’s turnout of approximately 280 competitors underscored the event’s enduring appeal among top-tier marathon and sprint paddlers.
Just days prior, Balboa partnered with veteran competitor Julio Martínez to secure a sixth-place finish in the prestigious Descenso Internacional del Sella.
Podium Finishes and Tight Contests in K-1 and K-2
David Pérez, representing Los Cuervos, secured second place with a tactical push in the closing kilometers, while Pelayo Palicio of the CP La Hípica de Logroño rounded out the podium in third, demonstrating exceptional poise through the technical turns of the course.
Meanwhile, the K-2 doubles division saw an equally compelling battle for supremacy on the water. Behind them, the local rivalry heated up as Guillermo Alonso and Joaquín Nachón, representing the Club Neptuno de Infiesto, claimed a hard-fought runner-up spot. The host club’s own Rubén Rodríguez and Miguel Serrano completed the K-2 podium for Club Piraguas Villaviciosa-El Gaitero, much to the delight of the partisan local supporters lining the banks.
