A TRAILBLAZING deal with cycling’s governing body to get more Bradfordians on their bikes has been extended for another two years.

And British Cycling hopes it may even help them discover the next cycling star to follow in the tracks of local hero, road race world champion Lizzie Deignan.

In 2010, Bradford Council became the first authority in Yorkshire to go into partnership with British Cycling to inspire thousands more local people to embrace pedal power.

Since then, almost 50,000 people have taken part in British Cycling events across the district and more than 170 local ride leaders have been trained to take people out on guided bike rides.

Now the scheme has been extended until 2019.

Tom Mutton, British Cycling’s partnerships manager, today visited the city to mark the extension of the deal.

He said: “Bradford is one of our longest-standing partners and recently, Bradford has been involved in a huge amount of cycling development.”

He said as a result of their partnership, there were now some “some fantastic local ambassadors and many heart-warming stories about how cycling has changed people’s lives for the better”.

Mr Mutton said the success of the Tour de France Grand Depart in 2014 and the Tour de Yorkshire legacy events had all helped to inspire a growing number of local people - particularly youngsters - to take up the sport.

In turn, he said, that meant the talent pool widened as they searched for the next potential champions.

He said: “Hopefully, with more people cycling in Bradford, who knows? In the future we might discover a new star.”

The extended agreement will involve a programme of recreational activities sponsored by high-street bank HSBC, which has taken over from Sky as British Cycling’s sponsor.

This will include guided rides, Breeze rides for women, Ride Social events to encourage people to set up their own cycling initiatives and Go-Ride, British Cycling’s development programme for young people.

British Cycling now has similar partnership deals with more than 30 local authorities across the country.

To mark the extension of the partnership with Bradford, Mr Mutton presented a framed cycling jersey to Councillor Sarah Ferriby, executive member for sport.

Cllr Ferriby said: “It’s a fantastic day. We have got another two years’ partnership with British Cycling. It’s absolutely wonderful.”

She said the Bradford district was increasingly being seen as a place for cyclists to visit.

And Council chief executive, Kersten England, said they hoped to “grow our reputation as a place where cyclists are welcome and the sport goes from strength to strength”.