José is both mentally and physically prepared for this event, which is without doubt one of the most important of the year after the Olympic Games. This year the cyclist from the Puigcerdá has prepared for the race in his own unique way. Without too many complications, but knowing that he has to attain peak fitness in August due to the Olympic Games. Nonetheless the Italian contest is important for Hermida who is hoping to finally leave behind the bad luck which has been dogging him during the first half of the season. In Italy and as always, concentrating on the national team, Merida has been able to carefully study the circuit where he will soon be competing with his friend and rival Julien Absalon, as well as the entire Swiss team who are still fighting to gain classification for entry to the Olympic Games. Hermida gave his opinions, “It’s going to be a very open race, the Swiss are very fast and so am I. I am feeling really good and I really hope to have a good race. I would like to be up with the front runners but you know that anything can happen in these races and you can be left without any hopes at all- that’s what has happened to me this season several times. The circuit is good, this week it has rained and it has been sunny, which means that anything can happen. A little bit of rain wouldn’t be too bad.”