Lexus has signed a two-year contract to sponsor the USA Pro Cycling Challenge as part of a move by the luxury automaker to get more involved with the sport on a global basis.

Lexus will become the official vehicle of the Colorado stage race, which begins Aug. 18 in Aspen. It also will provide a three-year lease of one of its hybrids to the winner and become the presenting partner for the jersey awarded to the race's top sprinter.

Lexus also announced Thursday that it will provide 125 cars for the race-day caravans.

Last year, Lexus commissioned 100 special-edition road bikes designed to demonstrate some shared characteristics between its cars and bikes. The frames use the same carbon-fiber material that Lexus developed for its LFA supercar.

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