Hayman edges sprint to clinch Paris-Roubaix win

Matthew Hayman snatched victory in the Paris-Roubaix after a sensational sprint finish around the velodrome.

The Orica-GreenEdge rider found enough energy in his legs to sprint past Sep Vanmarcke (Team LottoNl-Jumbo), Edvald Boasson Hagan (Dimension Data), Tom Boonen (Eitxx-QuickStep) and Ian Stannard (Team Sky) in the closing stages after the five riders had pulled clear.

Hayman becomes the third oldest winner of 'The Hell of the North' at the age of 37 and only the second from Australia – after Stuart O'Grady in 2007.

Four-time winner Boonen finished a bike's length back in second, with Stannard completing the top three after a strong ride.

"I can't believe it, I broke my arm five weeks ago and I missed all the racing," said Hayman.

"This is my favourite race, it's the race I dreamed of winning. I saved my legs and in the final I could tell the other guys were tired, we raced hard, played the game and I was lucky."

Earlier in the day attacks were made and reeled in before the first of 27 cobbled sections, with the peloton surging along at over 45kph.

That all changed as the tough terrain took its toll, the speed dropping and gaps beginning to open up, but only Boonen of the final five was not at the forefront throughout.

The Etixx-QuickStep rider had team-mate Tony Martin to thank for getting him into contention, the German dropping back once Boonen was with the breakaway.

Vanmarcke made the decisive charge on the 24th cobbled sector, the other four sticking to his wheel to set up the sprint finish around Roubaix's velodrome.

Pre-race favourite Fabian Cancellara's hopes fell away early as he failed to stay with the leaders and, although he made up time, a fall with 45km to go ended his dreams of a fourth win.

He was able to finish – spurred on by huge cheers from the velodrome crowd – while world champion Peter Sagan was in the chasing pack.