Reaching the top was brilliant but I don’t like climbing

Day one on 14 May was the prologue and I'd done pretty well. I wasn't in the yellow jersey — one of my team-mates was ­— but I wasn't far off. I knew the first main stage the following day suited an all-rounder like me — it was an undulating course but not too hilly.

I ended up in a breakaway with about 10 other riders with 60kms to go. I didn't necessarily feel in great shape — it was all a bit unexpected really. The thing is that I'd been working for other riders on the team so far this season so didn't know what my form would be like or whether I had the speed for a sprint.

A few of the girls tried to make breaks from the group in the final kilometres. I reacted a fraction of a second slower than some of the others to those attacks which actually left me fresh when it came to the sprint.

It's strange how things work. Sometimes these stage finishes are really stressful. However, some days it just comes naturally. When it came to the sprint, I felt great and I crossed the line ahead of the rest of the girls for the biggest win of my career and took the yellow jersey.

Basically, it ended up being the perfect race for my team as my Cervelo team-mate Emma Pooley won the overall race.

I'm not one of the best climbers and there were some really mountainous stages. My job was to protect Emma up until the climbs and make sure she was still at the front.

Once that job was done, I peeled off and let the climbers on our team look after Emma. It's quite horrible really because in that situation I'd done all I could and I was gasping for breath but still had a harsh mountain to climb.

The main thing is to not panic on a climb or else your breathing and your gear choices go to pieces.

Overall, the race went well for me and I'd like to think my team boss knows that if he asks a job of me, like going for a stage win, I can do it.

Next up for me is the British Road Race Championships on 27 June where myself, Emma and another team-mate, Sharon Laws, will be going for the win.

I have no idea how that's going to unfold but a Cervelo 1-2-3 with me at the front would be nice. The main thing is that we work together to beat Nicole Cooke, who's the big threat. I was a bit knackered after the Tour de l'Aude, as is my boyfriend, Adam Blythe, who's been competing in the Giro d'Italia. To ride in a Giro at the age of 20 is impressive enough but to finish fifth in a stage, which he did, is amazing.

Neither of us have that much energy to look after each other but we've been putting up a wardrobe and bed at home. When we first moved to Belgium we had no money. Now we've both got professional contracts, we've been able to splash out but building furniture with your partner isn't good. It doesn't bring the best out of you does it?

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