2012 Standard bearers: Lizzie Armitstead

Your mind is never allowed to switch off and, as soon as you finish one race, you're already thinking about the next one so I'm relishing the opportunity to have a little break and gear up properly for my next race at the end of July.

I'm pretty pleased to have finished second at the National Championships in Pendle, Lancashire. Initially, I set out to win the race as my early-season goal but, when I looked at the course, I realised it wasn't for me.

Don't get me wrong, I'm quite a good climber but the problem is that Emma Pooley [who took the victory] is the best climber in the world. Had it been any other National Championship, I think I could have got the win but this one was Emma's and she really deserved it.

It's rare that a National Championship road race suits her — there are not usually hard enough climbs — but this one was different and she knew this was her best ever chance to win it. I just hope next year's doesn't suit her!

Looking back at my race, I was pleased with how I didn't panic each time I was dropped on the climbs, which is what I expected. But I'm good on the technical descents so made up time and got back with the leaders quickly, particularly on the last lap.

There were just two kilometres to go and I was feeling good about the sprint. I felt if there was a quick finish, I'd win as I'd beaten Nicole Cooke, my main threat, a few times this season.

But then Emma broke clear for the victory. I guess if I wasn't to win, it was good it was my team-mate. It wouldn't have been great had Nicole beaten us Cervelo riders to it!

I got a bit of prize money for finishing second so treated myself to a some retail therapy in Leeds. Belgium, where I live, isn't exactly famous for being the height of fashion so I had to get my summer wardrobe sorted out before heading back there yesterday. I'm either tight or I go for it but I was too lazy and tired to fight the spending urge so I just went for it.

I've now got a chance for a bit of a breather.

I'll do what I call coffee shop rides — basically I'll probably only go out on the bike in the coming days if the weather's good with the aim of going out for a coffee at the end of it.

I'll also spend my days watching the men's Tour de France. I think it's on pretty much every TV channel in Belgium so you can't really avoid it.

I'll be closely watching Bradley Wiggins — it would be so good for the sport if he won as I am 100 per cent sure he's clean so, if he can emulate last year or even win it, it will show how much cleaner the sport is.

It's a hard job — he's not as good a climber as Alberto Contador — but it's not impossible and I think Brad can do some damage.

Sticking to sporting viewing, I missed the England game against Germany as I stayed to watch the men's British Road Race. But I got to watch the highlights, or should I say lowlights, afterwards.

For more information on Lizzie Armitstead, check out www.mtc-uk.com