The joint owner of a Bradford cycle business has urged women entrepreneurs from the Bradford district to “think outside the box” to take advantage of opportunities offered by the Tour de France Grand Depart this summer.

Sandra Corcoran, director of Pennine Cycles, based on Thornton Road, which has built a bespoke Le Tour version of its Pennine bike model, outlined her ideas at a Ladies4networking luncheon at the Tramshed restaurant in Saltaire.

She said: “I truly believe there will be a feelgood factor after Le Tour for the whole of Yorkshire which in turn will also give people thoughts to ride their bikes or start riding for health and happiness.”

Sandra said the Tour de France, which comes to the area on July 5 and 6, was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for local businesses of all types.

Caroline Towers, of Cottingley, who runs her international health and wellness online shopping business, said “It was great to see how everyone in the room was taking the opportunity seriously and how it was making them think, yes, I need to get involved.”

Meanwhile, Matt Carter, of French brand Mavic, which provides support services to the Tour de France, visited Pennine Cycles with a new display of its branded products.