Amgen Tour of California returning to Modesto in May

The streets of downtown Modesto again will be filled with some of the world’s top professional riders as the Tour of California returns for a third time.

The route for the 2010 edition of the nation's top cycling race was announced this morning, and Modesto was confirmed as the finish line of Stage 4, a route that will begin in San Jose on the morning of May 19.

The cities of Merced and Clovis, which hosted the race last year, will be passed over and replaced by a Visalia-to-Bakersfield run that will take advantage of elevation changes in that portion of the Sierra Nevada.

The Tour will begin May 16 with a Nevada City-to-Sacramento stage and will conclude May 23 in southern California.

City of Modesto officials scheduled a news conference at 10 a.m. to announce details. Gov. Schwarzenegger announced the statewide stages earlier today.