A Bradford business owner has urged local firms to grasp the opportunities that the Tour de France cycle race will bring next year.

Sandra Corcoran, who runs Pennine Cycles in Thornton Road with her husband Paul, attended a Barclays bank event where firms heard how they can prepare for the Tour’s Grand Depart next July, which is expected to bring three million more visitors to Yorkshire.

Locally, it will take in places including Otley, Ilkley, Silsden, Keighley, Haworth and Skipton.

Sandra said: “As someone that attends the race each year I can’t stress enough what a massive opportunity this is for all Yorkshire businesses who need to start thinking creatively of how they can use the TDF colours and bring the race into their business plans.

“A confectioners can perhaps make bicycle shaped biscuits with yellow icing, a bed and breakfast or cafe can decorate using TDF colours, an opticians could stock yellow sunglasses, garden centres yellow flowers, jewellers could think about bicycle shaped charms and jewellery – the list is endless.”

Tourist agency Welcome to Yorkshire has encouraged businesses to think about not only the business opportunities but also the impact the race weekend will have on their deliveries, staffing and customers.

Helen Clarke, Barclays business banking area manager for Leeds and Bradford, said: “Planning ahead is the key to any successful business and all Yorkshire businesses should be reviewing their plans right now for 2014.

“We are working hard to make sure all our customers make the most of this fantastic opportunity which will showcase Yorkshire to 190 countries around the world – we’ll never get a better opportunity to show the world just how great Yorkshire is.”