Encarnación made history by becoming the official host for the first edition of L’Étape Encarnación by Tour de France. L’Étape is the most prestigious international amateur cycling race in the world, held under the official licence of ASO, the organiser of the Tour de France. Hundreds of cyclists from ten different countries participated in a landmark day for Paraguayan sport.
The race saw competitors travelling along the streets and the waterfront of the Itapúa capital. The atmosphere successfully combined competition, tourism, and a sense of international spectacle. The event also benefited from the presence of the French Ambassador to Paraguay, Pierre Christian Soccoja. He not only provided institutional support for the competition but also participated as an athlete, thereby strengthening the sporting and cultural ties between France and Paraguay.
A historic day of racing
From the early hours of the morning, the sound of the starting signal on the Costanera of Encarnación marked the beginning of a momentous day. Participants competed across three distinct distances: a short 30-kilometre route, a medium 61.5-kilometre course, and a long 141-kilometre challenge. The circuits were designed in accordance with international technical standards, offering privileged views of the Paraná River and the San Roque González de Santa Cruz International Bridge.
As part of the official L’Étape by Tour de France experience, the organisation awarded outstanding athletes with the traditional emblematic jerseys of the Tour. The Yellow Jersey was presented to the overall winners of each distance and category. Similarly, the Green Jersey recognised the fastest sprinters, while the Polka Dot Jersey rewarded the best climbers. Finally, the White Jersey highlighted the most promising young cyclists.
Celebrating the victors
Among the main winners of the day, Carlos Sebastián Acuña Sánchez and Catia Rojas stood out, winning the long-distance 141-kilometre race in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively. In the medium-distance event, the victories went to Santiago Federico Ramúa Garrido and Priscilla Paula de Oliveira Prado. For the 30-kilometre race, Diego Hatschbach and Andrea Giosa claimed the top spots.
Carlos Rodrigo Recalde Larrea, the Director General of Rebelocity, highlighted the historical significance of the event for the country. He conveyed the scale of the achievement and what it means for Paraguay’s international standing in the sporting world. The event is organised by Rebelocity, which holds the official license from ASO.
Economic benefits for the region
The bi-national Encarnación-Posadas region experienced a significant surge in tourism and commercial activity throughout the weekend. According to estimates released by the organisation, the economic impact on the bi-national corridor exceeded US$3 million.
This provided a substantial boost to sectors such as hospitality, gastronomy, and tourism services in both Paraguay and Argentina. The influx of participants and spectators from across the region and beyond has demonstrated the event’s powerful economic potential.
Recalde Larrea also noted that the project will continue to grow in the country. “Today, with hundreds of cyclists from across the region crossing the finish line in Encarnación under the official Tour de France license, we can say that our conviction was correct. This is just the beginning of what Paraguay can achieve,” he stated.
The beginning of a new chapter
The story of L’Étape Paraguay will continue on 13 September, 2026, with the staging of L’Étape San Bernardino by Tour de France. This next event, closer to Asunción, will take the competition to the mountain routes of the Cordillera department and the natural surroundings of Lake Ypacaraí.
With two official dates in a single year, Paraguay solidifies its position as the only country in South America with a double presence in the L’Étape Series 2026 international calendar.
