FEMALE cyclists from across the country came to Bradford today as the city hosted an annual conference dedicated to getting more women involved in cycling.

The Women and Cycling Conference, held in the Dubrovnik Hotel, was organised by Healthy Life Cycles, a Bradford-based charity.

One of the big guests at the event, attended by over 100 women, was Otley’s Olympic medallist and Commonwealth and World Road Race Champion Lizzie Deignan, fresh from her epic Tour de Yorkshire win on Saturday.

She spoke to the group about her experiences in the sport, as well as answering questions from the audience, made up of women from as far away as Essex and Portsmouth.

Other speakers throughout the day included Velo City Girl blogger and ITV4’s The Cycle Show presenter Jools Walker and Bradford Council chief executive and keen cyclist Kersten England.

The group also heard from Norah McWilliam, a Queensbury resident who has been campaigning for several years to get the disused Queensbury rail tunnel re-opened as a cycleway, and local cyclists who told their own stories of their passion for the sport.

Throughout the day there were numerous workshops that looked at issues such as barriers women face to getting into cycling, the best healthy diets cyclists can adopt and how to widen participation in the sport.

Taking a break from the talks and workshops, many of the attendees popped over to nearby Lister Park, which was on the route of the Tour de Yorkshire, to enjoy a cycle in the sun and take part in “bike ballet” sessions.

Bradford had been awarded the conference after representatives from the charity made a pitch at the last conference, in York.

Healthy Life Cycles aims to provide positive recreational activities which improve the health, resilience and well-being of people across the Bradford district.

Nicole Stott, a trustee for the charity, said: “This conference aims to inspire more women to cycle more often and to more places.

“It has been very successful today. There have been a number of organisations and charities here from across the country.

“It is all about getting women more engaged and making it really successful in Bradford.”

Mrs England said the Tour de France’s visit to the district in 2014 had led to a major boost in the popularity of cycling in Bradford, adding: “The Tour de France has had a transformational effect with more and more people getting on two wheels as cycling has become hugely popular.

“Working together we’ve made great progress and our new cycling strategy sets out our ambition to make Bradford district a place where cycling is naturally part of everyone’s daily life.”

Next week Bradford will host another major cycling conference, the Cycle City Active City, billed as Europe’s largest conference and exhibition for cycling and active travel. It will be held at the National Science and Media Museum, the Alhambra Theatre and City Park on Thursday and Friday.