Personal highlights
Personal highlights
With a podium place in 2004 and fourth place in his final outing in 2010, Hammond has plenty of great performances to reflect on when it comes to Paris-Roubaix.
Having been unable to add a coveted victory to his palmares, however, it is a bittersweet reflection at times.
Hammond explains: “It was always my dream to win Paris-Roubaix, so 2004 is a bittersweet memory.
“Unfortunately I didn’t win it and I didn’t make too many mistakes in the majority of the race, but made a massive mess up on the track so it’s a bittersweet memory really. I really felt like one of the stronger guys there.
“Those kind of days come around very infrequently, as you can see from the results from my career.
“But also in 2009, they are different memories. We had a fantastic team there and a really good team atmosphere. It really showed there.
“We were in the front group but Thor and I were really working and it was nice to be part of a team where you had someone on the front with you and you’re both really killing yourself trying to catch somebody and set one of you up for the win.
“It was a cracking team. Just being part of that and having a good day on the bike really made for a special occasion. The funny thing was I really thought I was stronger there than when I was third and sprinting for the win.
“It’s just the way the race panned out and having Thor in the team meant I had to play a different role.”