Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos - Olympic Dreams

Images & Words Joolze Dymond.

This battle for supremacy will be decided over 7 laps over a compact and bijou course crammed with climbs and technical features designed to thrill the crowds whilst testing the sports best. It's unrelenting nature, suits it to the rider who can combine endurance, strength and skills, which quite honestly leaves the door wide open for any rider to claim the coveted Olympic crown. While Schurter is a favourite to deny the Frenchman his third Gold, lets not forget this men's race will be packed with the cream of mountain bike racing, including current World Champion Jaroslav Kulhavy, along with Burry Standers, Ralf Naef, Manual Fumic to name a few will most certainly do their most to upset that particular applecart.

However it will be hard to overlook Spain's Jose Hermida, known to many affectionately as the joker in the pack, Hermida could very well be the dark horse in this race. 

In 2010, After a decade of hard work, determination and commitment, Hermida finally achieved his goal of entering the exclusive club of riders who have won World Championship titles from Junior through to senior, one that currently only has 4 members, Martinez, Absalon, Schurter and now Hermida, now his goal is to better his Silver medal won in Athens.

However 2012 has not been the best of seasons for the affable Spaniard, with a number of health issues, marring his usual consistent form, a regular top 10 finisher in the ultra competitive World Cup Series, Hermida's battles with Absalon over the years have become legendary. Fortunately as the Olympics edge ever closer Hermida finally seemed to have turned a corner, proving his form was back on track has he sprinted to the finish line for second narrowly defeated by Schurter in R5 of the World Cup Series, followed up by another visit to the World Cup podium as he clocked up 5th in the 7th round, just weeks before the Olympics.

We caught up with Jose just before he touched down in London, to chat about his thoughts going into the race and of course to ask if 'that' lucky moustache will be making an appearance on the Olympic start line.

XCR: This will be your 4th Olympics. What memories do you have of the last 3 and what memories do you hope to take with you from London?

JH: I have many memories! From my first Olympics as a rookie in Sydney, then Athens, where I was favourite for the gold, but had to concede to Absalon and came home with Silver, through to Beijing, where, well it just wasn't my year, I was just happy to finish there and found out later I had been suffering from blood poisoning due to an infected tooth, so even though I was 10th I was just happy to finish. But overall it's just amazing to be part of the Olympic history and to be able to have participated to 4, well thats just an honour and I hope this 4th one will be special and provide me with many more memories!

XCR: You've not had the best start to the 2012 season with your performance well below your usual par, until you turned that corner in Mont Saint Anne. Does this mean you have managed to address what was wrong in time for the Olympics?

JH: Yes, I've had a number of problems, since the start of the season, I've not been entirely comfortable with my shape. I've battled through it and after having suffered a lot physically and mentally we have found out at last  that my problems were from allergies and asthma. Right now I feel good and thats the most important.

XCR: What was your initial reaction to the news that the Olympics were being held at Hadleigh Farm, before you rode the course?

JH: I admit that when I first heard the news  of where the XC Olympic race was going to be held, I was one of the most critical riders. At first I thought the course was a scalextrix course! It seemed very similar to the Beijing course, really compact, there was some technical parts. I was concerned that the course was far from our MTB roots. MTB has kind of Surf rules: keep the nature and enjoy the trails, In this case they built a complete MTB course which will look great on TV but TV isn't everything and for sure there are amazing places in the UK already that use these natural trails.

XCR: Now you had a chance to ride the course, you seem to have a changed your mind, describing it as 'Brutal'!

JH: Yes I did change my point of view after I rode it. Maybe because I saw a course that can show our sport in a spectacular way on TV and also because it's a kind of course, with it's small hills that can fit to my riding style!

XCR: What are the highlights of the course for you?

JH: In my opinion the penultimate down hill will be spectacular (berms and high speed) and also the "RockGarden". But for sure spectators will be impressed about our speed on the climbs!

XCR: Where do you think the race will be won or lost?

JH: I think the race will be decided by small mistakes and not in big attacks or special "riding lines," so it can be that the race gets decided in a simple corner or just in a small rock. It will be exciting.

XCR: Do you think you will be all guns blazing and contending for a medal at London?

JH: Well thats what we (Myself and my team around me) have been working out my problems this year for, to make sure I'm back to my normal level. So far so good, so I hope to come out fighting and to come home with a medal!

XCR: Absalon will be hoping to make it 3 out of 3 but what is your prediction where the medals might go?

JH: Well it's a difficult prediction, Olympics,  it's a kind of lottery, one thing its sure in times of "big wars" Absalon, Nino, Fontana; Me, Jaro, Naef are always there and ready for podium, but I hope to be the guy that stops the incredible statistics of Absalon!

XCR: Who do you think this course will favour most?

JH: I think will be more for Nino,Me,Fontana� so small guys that like to ride "hamster" courses!!!

XCR: Do you think GB rider Liam Killeen has a chance to make a mark in his home games?

JH: I think yes, but with Liam you never know!!!! He was super good in Athens but after that he lost a bit the progress way he had. In any case he is one of those riders that in bigs days he always good to place a bet for top ten.

XCR: What are your thoughts about Peraud? Do you think he will be the dark horse of the games?

JH: Jajajjaj!!! Peraud the "routier"�. He never left  MTB and we saw it this season. After top ten in TDF 2011 none of us could suspect that he could come back and be fast. But nevertheless he qualified for the Olympic team and he was close to beating Absalon in Beijing. For sure he will be one of those riders without pressure and with freedom to make moves during the race.

XCR: When did you start your focus on the Olympics?

JH: It's a long process, you can say I've been training for this since Beijing  but lets say that I started my main focus last year around Oct.

My training doesn't really change, I will tweak certain parts but overall my training has but me in good shape so far. 

XCR: With all this discussion about wheel sizes at the moment, have you decided what you will be riding on the day?

JH: I'll be riding my Merida Big Nine, a hard tail 29er. The course seems to suit the 29er. I like the 650b that Schurter will be running but I don't think it's that suitable for London.

XCR: f you won the Gold, how would you celebrate?

JH: Ummmmm!!! I'm not planing anything as yet! If it comes to that point, for sure I make something to remember. Right now I'm focus on get a good shape level to make sure I'm in contention!

XCR: Will we be seeing the 'lucky' moustache making a return on the Olympic start line?

JH: Jajajjaajj!!! Its something that its planed�..but as a latino I need a couple of weeks to get a deep "mex-mustacho"!!jajajajja so I have time.

XCR: What's next after the Olympics for you?

JH: Thats a good question, because seems that after Olympics all "circus" stops!!! In my case I will refocus again for the worlds champs in Austria and also at Marathon Worlds.

But I will try my best to "close" my garage on 12th August. 

XCR: Do you hope to make your 5th Olympics in Brazil??

JH: I will try thats for sure, I don't plan to stop after London, and my team Multivan Merida it's supporting me  for it, so fingers crossed I will be there for number 5!

See Jose in action on Sunday the 12th August, he'll be wearing number 6. Racing kicks off  1.30pm. 

 

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