The Puigcerdá rider hopes to attain second place in the overall rankings, but he will have to win the race and hope that neither Sausser nor Kabush take the podium.

Hermida is clear about “going for it”. The circuit was visited by World Cup riders in 2006 and several curves have been modified since then, but little else. The track is short, some 5.4 kilometres, with a pronounced uphill climb (making use of the ski runs) and a speedy downhill run. The descent itself is not a vertical one, and requires little skill; the few roots there are will do little to complicate the race for the riders.

The weather however is not favouring the participants. Last Thursday a heavy rainstorm swept the area, the circuit however remained almost untouched.

The world cup season is coming to an end. But before then we will see a new fight among the front –runners to see who will take the winner’s stand on the podium.