Asunción, Agencia IP.- The organizing committee highlighted the support of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies (MITIC) in the event’s communication strategy and plans to strengthen this collaborative effort for upcoming dates on the international cycling calendar in Paraguay.
This was highlighted during a working meeting that brought together representatives from the L’Étape organizing committee, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies (MITIC), the Country Brand initiative, and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, through REDIEX. The meeting assessed the results of the first edition of L’Étape Encarnación by Tour de France 2026 and outlined actions to address future challenges.
Hundreds of cyclists from 10 countries crossed the finish line in this inaugural edition, marking a historic day for the country and solidifying Encarnación as a host city for an international event. The competition also featured the French Ambassador to Paraguay, Pierre Christian Soccoja, who competed as an athlete, strengthening ties among Paraguay, France, and the official Tour de France circuit.
During the meeting, the organizing committee particularly valued MITIC’s role in planning and deploying the communication strategy, which enabled the event to be positioned nationally and internationally, with coverage in more than 16 media outlets and extensive visibility before and during the competition.
The economic impact of the event was also highlighted, with over USD 3 million mobilized in the Encarnación-Posadas corridor, consolidating sports tourism as a real engine of development for the region. This figure aligns with initial projections that estimated an impact of approximately USD 4 million.
«The scale of what we experienced in Encarnación demonstrates that Paraguay is prepared to host events of this magnitude. This is just the beginning of a consolidation process that we will continue to strengthen,» the organizers stated.
The competition, officially licensed by the Tour de France, included three distances (30 km, 61.5 km, and 141 km) and made Paraguay an official host city of the international L’Étape Series circuit. In this context, the next event on the calendar, L’Étape San Bernardino by Tour de France, scheduled for September 13, is already shaping up to be a major highlight.
With these results, Paraguay is taking a firm step in positioning itself as a host of major international sporting events, with a strategy that integrates sport, tourism, communication, and economic development.
