BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- The Bakersfield Sports Foundation has unveiled the local Stage 5 finish logo for the 2010 Amgen Tour of California.

The logo, created by local artist Michael Salle, incorporates elements specific to Bakersfield and Stage 5 of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California. Salle’s design was selected by the Bakersfield Sports Foundation out of 37 entries submitted.

The logo was revealed at a private reception hosted by Rabobank, N.A, the official corporate sponsor for Stage 5.

“We wanted something that was unique from anything we have seen related to other host cities throughout the history of the Tour of California,” said Bakersfield Sports Foundation President Kerry Ryan. “Mr. Salle’s design is distinctive and will always be synonymous with the Tour’s first journey to Bakersfield.”

The logo’s prominent feature is a large ‘5’ encasing a cyclist, the date of Stage 5 and the lettering from the famous Bakersfield sign at the bottom of the design.

“I really wanted to show the intensity on the cyclist’s face to express the hardships the riders have to endure throughout the Tour,” said logo creator Michael Salle. “I designed the rough edges of the ‘5’ with that in mind along with researching past Amgen Tour of California races.”

The logo will be featured on select promotional material as well as merchandise available for sale at a later date.

"To be able to properly commemorate one of the largest events in the history of Bakersfield there had to be an instantly recognizable logo and we have succeeded in finding one,” said Ryan. “Whether you see the logo on a poster or t-shirt, you’ll know exactly what event it is and remember all the positive exposure Bakersfield received from the race.”

About the Amgen Tour of California
The largest cycling event in America, the 2010 Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race, presented by AEG, which challenges the world’s top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course from May 16-23. Bakersfield is featured as the Stage 5 Finish city.

About the Bakersfield Sports Foundation
The Bakersfield Sports Foundation was formed to encourage and promote fitness and sportsmanship through the sponsorship of competitive sporting activities. BSF, a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization, is the local body responsible for the marketing and production of the Stage Five Finish of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California professional cycling race. It directs a volunteer Local Organizing Committee which works under the direction of AEG Sports, the owner and presenter of the Amgen Tour of California.