A back injury has forced the withdrawal of Craig Branch from the 2005 World Championships downhill in Bormio.
A back injury has forced the withdrawal of Craig Branch from the 2005 World Championships downhill in Bormio.
Branch aggravated a pre-existing bulged disc in the L4 & L5 region of his lower back during training earlier in the week, and although he completed the fourth and final training run, he ended the session in intense pain and unable to walk.
He will now return home immediately for treatment, ending his World Cup season, but providing the maximum opportunity for full rehabilitation in the lead-up to his vital 2005-06 Olympic season.
On a brighter note for the alpine team, Luke Deane continued to impress, placing 17th in a Europa Cup Super-G in Megeve, France, on Thursday, Deane was just 96/100 seconds behind the winner Walter Girardi of Italy.
The result gave him 18.72 FIS points. Brad Wall was 61st in the same event.
The pair will compete in the World Championships giant slalom in Bormio on Monday.
Branch aggravated a pre-existing bulged disc in the L4 & L5 region of his lower back during training earlier in the week, and although he completed the fourth and final training run, he ended the session in intense pain and unable to walk.
He will now return home immediately for treatment, ending his World Cup season, but providing the maximum opportunity for full rehabilitation in the lead-up to his vital 2005-06 Olympic season.
On a brighter note for the alpine team, Luke Deane continued to impress, placing 17th in a Europa Cup Super-G in Megeve, France, on Thursday, Deane was just 96/100 seconds behind the winner Walter Girardi of Italy.
The result gave him 18.72 FIS points. Brad Wall was 61st in the same event.
The pair will compete in the World Championships giant slalom in Bormio on Monday.
