Cyclist David vs Goliath: Why Mat Hayman’s 2016 Paris-Roubaix win was so monumental David and Goliath. Rocky vs Creed. Hayman vs Boonen. The determined underdog, odds stacked against them, is a well-loved trope. But why exactly? Is supporting the little guy in sport a bit like staring in the mirror and imagining ourselves in their place? Do you believe fate can, in the face of what seem like insurmountable odds, contrive some form of path to redemption? Whichever the reason, the underdog is a valiant hero.   As Mat Hayman spoke to the camera before the 2016 Paris-Roubaix, on the cusp of turning 38 years old, he said: ‘It’ll be my fifteenth attempt at winning.’ Little did he know that after 257km and against multiple obstacles, he would reign victorious, earning a cobblestone to place on his mantelpiece. But just how did he do it? Related Posts The edge of glory: Does history predict a win for Mathieu van der Poel at Paris-Roubaix 2024? How to watch Paris-Roubaix 2024 Where Paris-Roubaix 2024 will be decided, part 1: The Arenberg Forest Paris-Roubaix 2024: Routes, start lists, history and all you need to know A pre-race broken arm Mathew Hayman The Australian’s arrival at the start line in Compiègne for The Hell of the North in 2016 marked his return from an ill-timed injury. A crash at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad resulted in a broken arm just six weeks prior to Paris-Roubaix. Hayman trained on the turbo in his garage, propping his cast on a ladder as a makeshift arm rest. A race littered with crashes Whether it’s bad luck, unfortunate positioning or a touch of wheels, the arbitrary nature of crashes and the various scale of injuries they inflict, from superficial wounds to a rider’s race ending in seconds, are a part of cycling. During the 2016 Paris-Roubaix, Hayman’s teammate Mitch Docker suffered a horrendous crash in the Arenberg Forest that almost cost him his left eye. Fabian Cancellara, three-time winner of the race, had his swansong Roubaix cut short after an abundance of crashes left him out of contention. A decisive split eventually emerged amidst the chaos; the five-man leading group comprising Hayman, four-time Paris-Roubaix winner Tom Boonen, Norwegian National Champion Edvald Boasson Hagen, Ian Stannard and Sep Vanmarcke. Hayman was dropped on the Carrefour de l’Arbre sector yet, with the dogged determination of a man unhinged, forced his way back to the contenders. This was the group who would battle it out for Paris-Roubaix victory. A finish for the ages Weary riders continued to attack one another. As the kilometres ticked down to two, only Hayman could follow Boonen into the gladiator’s arena for one last battle. But his final competitor standing in the way of glory was none other than a goliath, already boasting four Paris-Roubaix wins. As TV viewers heard: ‘Hayman has won two professional races; Boonen has won 109. The odds are stacked against the Australian.’  The duo swung into the velodrome for a game of cat-and-mouse as Vanmarcke worked his way back onto Hayman’s wheel. Stannard and Boassen Hagen caught up too. The odds were stacking up against him once more, but Hayman was relentless, adrenaline-filled with the finish line in sight. He worked his way in front of his heavyweight competitors. 200m… 100m… 50m… ASO/Beardy McBeard This was Mathew Hayman’s year. As he crossed the line and met soigneur and videographer Dan Jones, his face was an assortment of emotions. Shock, disbelief, relief and eventually jubilation. The entertaining nature of this win, combined with the sheer likeability of the winner wrapped the 2016 Paris-Roubaix in a neat underdog story bow, certifying itself as one for the books. A historic edition. Hayman and Durbridge hug after the 2016 Paris-RoubaixASO/E.Garnier ‘This doesn’t happen… it doesn’t happen.’ Hayman told Luke Durbridge in disbelief as they celebrated. ‘It does to you,’ Durbridge replied, before saying, ‘that’s one for the good guys.’ Read our full Paris-Roubaix guide for course details, start lists and more Listen to Mathew Hayman’s episode of the Cyclist Magazine podcast The post David vs Goliath: Why Mat Hayman’s 2016 Paris-Roubaix win was so monumental appeared first on Cyclist.