Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) is a French sports event management company founded in 1992. It is responsible for organizing and managing some of the world's most prestigious sporting events, including the Tour de France, the Dakar Rally, the Paris Marathon, and the Paris-Nice cycling race. The Tour de France is the most famous and prestigious cycling race in the world and is organized by ASO. It is a multi-stage race that covers more than 3,500 kilometers over 21 days and attracts top cyclists worldwide. The race is known for its grueling mountain stages, challenging time trials, and intense sprint finishes. ASO also manages L'Etape du Tour de France, an amateur cycling event that allows amateur cyclists to experience what it's like to ride a stage of the Tour de France. The L'Etape du Tour de France is a single-day event that takes place on a stage of the Tour de France route and attracts thousands of amateur cyclists worldwide. The event typically occurs a few days before the professionals ride the same stage. In addition to L'Etape du Tour de France, ASO also manages the L'Etape event series, which includes a number of amateur cycling events held worldwide. These events give amateur cyclists the opportunity to experience the challenges of riding some of the most iconic climbs and routes in professional cycling.