Australian Hayman secures shock Paris-Roubaix victory
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An emotional Mathew Hayman lifted the cobbled trophy after springin a surprise victory at the Paris-Roubaix on Sunday.
The third of five classics on the pro cycling calendar took the peloton over 257.5-km of which 52.8 were over the bone-shaking cobbled sectors.
The highly-anticipated battle between pre-race favourites Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland and Slovakian Peter Sagan failed to materialise.
After multiple failed break away groups, five men finally went clear to dominate the latter stages of a crash-riddled race.
The front group included Australian Hayman as well as former world champion Tom Boonen – who was hunting a record breaking fifth Paris Roubaix title.
On the finishing track Hayman appeared to have made his move too early but he surprised all by holding Boonen at bay for a stunning victory – his first in 16 appearances in the race.