This Sunday has not been a good day for Hermida and his fans.The Multivan-Merida rider has not had any chance to defend his National Champ jersey that he won last year. Jose has been in the leading group in the first moments of the race, but sensations were not good at all. The Catalan rider has covered a couple of laps in 6th place, but with no power to try to close the gap with the medal positions and he has decided to quit.

The 5 times Spanish Champion explained after the race that “today it was not the day. I have not felt good in any moment. People who know me know that I can suffer and that I never quit. In more than 13 years of professional career I have quitted a race just a few times. But sometimes you can see that you are going to make a huge effort that will get no reward. An in a one day race, where winning is the only valid result for you, it is no good to go through a hell if you are not in the top group. This comes with your curriculum and you have to accept it. I just want to congratulate Mantecón for his great race”.

Jose is also thinking in the big events that are coming closer: “we are facing two months in which there will be a lot of important titles to fight for. On one side, we are racing two World Cups in a row, where I want to be as high positioned as possible. Afterwards, I will be attending the Marathon World Championships; I love these challenges and I think it is going to be a great experience. And after that, the last World Cup and the XC World Champs in Canada” explained the rider from Puicerdà.

Moreover, Jose wanted to send a message to all those who have shown their interest and sympathy for him during the weekend: “It is a luxury for me to have such a big quantity of people who cheer me all the time, no matter if I am leading a race or not. I feel respected and beloved and it is a great honour for me. I want to thank them all for the faith they have in me and I hope I can offer them some good results in this 2010. Thanks to all from my heart”, stated an always smily Hermida.