The Multivan-Merida team has already started the racing calendar and Hermida decided to give start to the 2010 MTB season as well, taking part in the Maremma Cup. This has been the first test of the Catalan rider after the intense Ciclocross season that was finalized with the Worlds in Tábor.

The goal in this first race was clear. “Basically I wanted to test myself in competition in order to get the feeling of which level I am at. After the ciclocross season, I have slowed down the trainning intensity and I have been working on long trainning sessions to improve my base. Moreover, I have gone through a tendonitis in my knee and I wanted to know how it worked in competition”, explained Hermida.

Hermida didn’t have his day. To his still initial form, we have to add the terrible crash suffered by his team mate Moritz Milatz, that shaked both the crowds and the rest of riders. Jose decided to quit in order to check the state of his colleague. He has visited him this morning at the hospital and he is fine, luckily.

However, the good news despite not finishing the race were the good feeling he had on his knee, what is great news in order to face in good conditions the next races that are coming. “This coming weekend I will be in the Spanish Cup to be held in Banyoles, just like every season. After that I will be preparing my attendance to the Cape Epic, where I will be racing together with my Dutch team mate Rudi van Houts”, Hermida explains.