Hayman: I couldn't think of a better way to retire
20 January 2019 10:46
Mathew Hayman had to spend another three months training in order to tack one extra week onto the end of his career, but it was more than worth it as he bowed out in style at the Tour Down Under. The 40-year-old Australian rode his last full season in 2018 but wanted to bring an end to his 19-year career, which included a famous victory at Paris-Roubaix, on home turf in front of home fans. It couldn't have gone much better, as his Mitchelton-Scott claimed their fifth Tour Down Under title in eight years, with Daryl Impey sealing back-to-back overall victories by keeping Richie Porte at bay up the double ascent of Willunga Hill on the final day.ADVERTISEMENT "You don't get to choose, but I couldn't think of a better way to go out," Hayman told Cyclingnews beyond the finish line. "Half-way up the climb I was thinking about my career, and ending, and then all of a sudden it was back to thinking about the race again. What a ride from Daryl. It's been a week's worth of work, which it always is for us, and he's a legend for finishing it off like that." Hayman was an enormously popular winner at Roubaix in 2016 and, in his final race, the esteem in which he is held by the peloton was clear to see. Roared on by the home crowds on Willunga, it was also notable that he received a fair few pats on the back from his fellow pros ahead of the final ascent.
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