On Sunday last, Tom Boonen (Etixx-Quick Step) came incredibly close to winning a record fifth Paris-Roubaix. Unfortunately for the Belgian, he was beaten in the sprint at the velodrome in Roubaix by Mathew Hayman (Orica-GreenEDGE).

Boonen’s team-mate Tony Martin had blown the race apart earlier on leaving him in a great position to challenge for the victory.

Coming into the last few kilometres, it did like he could take the win. Alongside Boonen and Hayman in those closing kilometres were Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data), Ian Stannard (Team Sky) and Sep Vanmarcke (LottoNL-Jumbo)

With less than 3 kilometes remaining, Boonen attacked and only Hayman was capable to get in his wheel. It looked like the victory would be between the two of them only for the other to make it back up to the leaders.

Hayman opened his sprint first, and despite a valiant effort by the Belgian, he couldn’t get up to Hayman and had to be satisfied with second place. It marked the 13th time that Boonen has finished in the top 3 of a Monument.

Here the four-time champion talks of his experience during the 114th edition of the “Hell of the North”.

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