In 1979, still an amateur on an English team 'London Australia' (Archer Road Club), he won the 1979 Tour of Ireland.
Phil Anderson, Stephen Roche and Robert Millar finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th behind Hayman, and all subsequently became successful professionals.
[citation needed] Hayman's most dramatic win was his sprint victory over the Italian sprinter, Silvestro Milani of Bottecchia, in Washington D.C in the final stage of the 1983 Tour of America, the only stage not won by a European.
Later that summer, Davis Phinney narrowly beat Steve Bauer at the USPRO criterium championship racing against European professional teams.
These wins foreshadowed the end of the European dominance of professional cycle racing.