[1] The race was originally staged in February, but the 2010 Tour of California was moved to May, the same time that the Giro d'Italia is held.

[2] At the time of the move it was considered likely that the number of Americans in the Giro and Italians in the Tour of California would decrease.

The tour was sponsored by Amgen, a California-based biotechnology company most famous for developing the anti anemia drug Erythropoietin (EPO), which has been used by professional cyclists in several blood doping scandals.

[4] The leader and overall winner by time after each stage and at the conclusion of the race wore a Yellow Jersey.

The leader and overall winner by points from intermediate and final sprints wears the Green Jersey.

The main sponsor of the event, Amgen, is the producer of the medical drug Erythropoietin, also called EPO.