Local cycling enthusiasts are celebrating -- The AMGEN Tour of California is coming to Bakersfield. Cycling legend Lance Armstrong says he'll be here.
In mid-May of 2010, some 200 world class cyclists will cover more than 750 miles of California terrain in the fifth annual "AMGEN tour of California." And Thursday, it was made official, Bakersfield will host the finish of the race's fifth leg.
"There are few events, sports or otherwise in Bakersfield, that matches the amount of global notoriety our city stands to receive from the tour of California,'' said Mayor Harvey Hall.
''The eyes of the cycling world will be on Bakersfield on May 20, in what has been described as America's equivalent to the Tour de France,'' said Kerry Ryan, president of the Bakersfield Sports Foundation. ''It has the same riders, the same quality of riders, the same teams from the tour, so there's no real difference."
Being selected as one of the 16 host cities is the culmination of a four-year campaign by local civic leaders and cycling enthusiasts.
An event certain to pump lots of tourist dollars into the local economy. "I would estimate it will be in the hundreds of thousands,'' said Don Cohen, executive director of the Bakersfield Convention Bureau. ''Perhaps millions of dollars."
Arin Resnick, local cyclist. "I'm so excited, I'm shaking." Joe Coughlin, local cyclist. "I was going to go to France this year to watch some cycling, guess I'll just stay home." "This is the biggest thing to hit the west coast since the Doobie Brothers."
And for those of you wondering, yes, seven-time Tour De France winner Lance Armstrong will be competing in that race.
And 17 News was told there's a good chance Amgen officials will decide to finish the Visalia-to-Bakersfield leg with a circuit ride featuring that uphill climb on Alfred Harrell Highway to the Panorama Bluffs and on to Bakersfield College.
