Peter Sagan makes waves with amazing new haircut - but is all as it seems?

Even when he’s off the bike, world champion Peter Sagan can’t stop hitting the headlines in his native Slovakia – after all, he enjoys a level of fame there similar to that of David Beckham here at the peak of his Manchester United career.

And just as a new haircut from the former England skipper was guaranteed to make the front page of the red tops, so it is with Sagan, who is causing waves following a radical rug rethink. But is all as it seems? Read on ...

Sagan been growing his hair for a while, and pictures on the website Sportky.sk show him under the scissors at a salon in Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava – well, one half of his head, anyway, which got a crewcut, while the other half was left long, or so it appeared.

The photos are rather arresting to say the least and the 26-year-old seems chuffed with the results, although the website adds that the haircut was to be a surprise for his wife, Katerina. If you’re a married man, try it at home and let us know how you get on.

We’d like to think the haircut was inspired by the half-and-half training kit Sagan’s Tinkoff team wore in tribute to Diego Maradona at the Dubai Tour last month.

> Tinkoff half-and-half jersey pays tribute to Diego Maradona

It's subsequently been revealed though, that there's a bit more to this than first appears - and that there is a wig involved.

Sagan, who used to sport cropped hair, was appearing in a forthcoming spot for Telekom, which he endorses in Slovakia.

And while he is adamant he will keep his long hair, to get the effect of short hair, the advert's makers brought in award-winning TV and film make-up artist, Juraja Steiner.

To add credibility, they also had a leading French hairdresser based in Slovakia carry out the 'haircut.'

The subterfuge appears to have caught some on the hop - not least, ourselves - and we look forward to seeing the advert when it comes out next week.