"SLIP, slop, slap," goes the saying in Australia. It stands for slip on a shirt, slop on the sun cream and slap on a hat. Cyclist Alan Iacuone has added an interesting variation, however. He puts a lettuce leaf on his head.

On Sunday, as Steffi Graf was wilting and going out of the Australian Open in Melbourne's brutal heat, Iacuone completed victory in a five day race and then revealed the secret of his success. Or one of them anyway.

Munching a salad before the concluding hour long stage, the 23 year old decided to put the lettuce under his helmet, the idea being that with its high water content it would keep his head cooler. Will his success now prompt competitors in other sports to try it?