The man who had led for over 4,500 miles would now finish in third place; he had handed the win to his Japanese team-mate, Hiroshi Masuoka.Compared with the real human tragedy that had occurred just a few days before, Peterhansel’s plight seemed small fry, but it was still an excruciating twist in a bizarre tale. No man – or woman – is bigger than the Paris-Dakar.. The Russians and – with one exception – the French have come and gone. It is time next weekend for the Powergen Challenge Cup to reassert itself as Britain’s most high-profile competition. Five Super League clubs with ambitions to tap into that start their quest on Saturday.With the BBC televising two matches live, the dubious privilege of the early start goes to Wakefield and Castleford, who contest a local derby at Belle Vue.Last season, this would have seemed a foregone conclusion, with Cas in the top six and Wakefield struggling against relegation.

But Trinity could perhaps have found some stability under the coaching partnership of Shane McNally and Adrian Vowles, and their squad looks stronger than last year’s.They sprang a surprise when they beat Widnes at this fourth-round stage last year, while Cas have earned a reputation as slow starters and the jury is out on whether they are better equipped than they were in 2002.Bradford go to Warrington determined not to bow out early, as they did last time. The Bulls have pushed the cup higher up their priorities and will be wary on a ground where they have suffered some surprising defeats.It won’t quite be the same Bradford this season. One of their “Awesome Foursome” of props, Brian McDermott, has retired, while Nathan McAvoy has gone to Saracens and Brandon Costin to Huddersfield. Against that, two players for whom they have high hopes, Shontayne Hape and Karl Pratt, will be making their competitive debuts.Warrington have been underachievers for years, but are another club who could benefit from stability this year, with their favourite son, Paul Cullen, installed as coach. This, however, should be a little too much for them.The other contenders starting out next Saturday are St Helens, whose draw to play at the surviving French club, Union Treiziste Catalane, was the last thing they wanted, given their appointment to meet the Sydney City Roosters in the World Club Challenge six days later..

Budge Pountney will put his dramatic decision to quit Scotland behind him when he turns out for Northampton in their Zurich Premiership game against Wasps at High Wycombe today. The 29-year-old flanker, who ended his five-year, 31-cap international career after a series of disputes with the Scottish Rugby Union and the recent removal of a testicle, will take his place in the Saints back row for a game which is vital to both sides’ play-off hopes. Northampton have recalled England hooker Steve Thompson, but a stomach bug has sidelined former All Blacks flanker Andrew Blowers. Josh Lewsey returns to the Wasps bench after a hamstring injury. The former All Blacks centre Daryl Gibson has taken over the Bristol captaincy from the injured England lock Garath Archer, while Leeds prop Gavin Kerr is recalled in the only change to the side that beat Bath four weeks ago – the Tykes’ last match.Saracens make several changes to the team hammered 51-20 by Gloucester last weekend for the return fixture at Vicarage Road.

Kevin Sorrell replaces Ben Johnston at centre, while French prop Christian Califano and England flanker Richard Hill are also recalled. Gloucester have Junior Paramore, Marcel Garvey and Phil Vickery available following injury.Meanwhile, Saracens are mourning the death of Peter Deakin, their former commercial manager, on Friday. Deakin, who switched from rugby league in the mid-1990s (the first of two spells with the north London club), was respected in both codes for his marketing skills.Fresh from their cross-code success over St Helens, second-placed Sale have named Jason Robinson, Charlie Hodgson and Bryan Redpath for their trip to London Irish. The Exiles make three changes to the side which beat Rotherham in the Powergen Cup, bringing in Rob Hardwick, Richard Kirke and Kieron Dawson.England face Samoa in the IRB world series sevens quarter-finals in Brisbane today after topping their group. Harle-quins’ Ben Gollings scored two tries and Newcastle’s Phil Dowson also went over in a 21-14 win over Fiji. Nathan McAvoy, signed by Saracens from Bradford Bulls last week, crossed twice in the 22-19 defeat of Japan and his new club-mate, Richard Haughton, claimed a try double as England beat the Cook Islands 21-0.Newport scored 31 points without reply in the second half of last night’s Welsh Premiership visit to Ebbw Vale. Trailing 15-6 at half-time, Newport ran out 37-15 winners to go second in the table.