The prefecture of Gers hosted Tour finishes for three consecutive years in the mid-1970s. Eddy Merckx was the first to win here, his victory in a time trial in 1975 proving to be his last stage win in the race. Auch hosted another time trial in 1976, won by another Belgian, Ferdinand Bracke. The following year, a road stage between Fleurance and Auch featured on the race route and was won by Pierre-Raymond Villemiane. Although the town of former French rugby international Jacques Fouroux hasn’t been a stage town since then, a tribute was paid here in 2022 to Nicolas Portal, the former rider and then team director of Sky and Ineos, as the peloton made its way to Cahors on stage 19.
- Stage town for the 4th time
- Prefecture of the department of Gers (32)
- Population: 23,100 (Auscitains and Auscitaines); 192,500 within the department of Gers
