Arnold Classic Europe 2016: Dates, Schedule, Prize Money, Top Bodybuilders, More
Mr. Olympia champion Phil Heath will not be travelling to Barcelona for the Arnold Classic Europe 2016, but nearly every other top bodybuilder in the world will be gathering from Friday until Sunday in Europe's biggest contest of the year.
The pro show will take place on Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Fira Gran Via, with finals starting at 7 p.m.
With a $100,000 prize purse on offer, the men who finished second through sixth at this year's Mr. Olympia will all do battle, including defending champion Dexter Jackson and former winner Shawn Rhoden.
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Here's a look at the schedule for the weekend, courtesy of the event's official website.
| Friday, Sept. 23 | 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. |
| Saturday, Sept. 24 | 10 p.m. - 8 p.m. |
| Sunday, Sept. 25 | 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. |
Dexter Jackson
The veteran has already won the Arnold Classic South Africa this year but was far from his best in Las Vegas, placing third. Jackson did well during the solo appearances on stage, but when placed next to Heath or Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay, he appeared to lack mass.
Big Ramy also looked a little flat during pre-judging and restored his incredible physique in time for Saturday, so Jackson's issues on the final day of the Mr. Olympia contest don't have to doom his chances of winning the Arnold Classic Europe.
The 46-year-old remains one of the most consistent and savvy bodybuilders of his era, and there are few better at posing than Jackson.
Shawn Rhoden
The 2012 champion has been steadily building his physique all year with an eye on Mr. Olympia and this week's contest, and it showed in Las Vegas, as the Jamaican looked fantastic on stage.
As shared by this fan, his proportions were excellent, with his legs in particular standing out:
He was rewarded with a second-place finish, ahead of longtime rival Jackson and a host of other competitors, and he took to Instagram to thank everyone who supported him on his journey:
Rhoden rarely finishes off the podium and is the favourite for this year's title after his solid showing in Vegas. His symmetry and great posing are huge assets in a field where so many of the top contenders seem to lack experience when it comes to the latter.
William Bonac
William Bonac took fifth place in Las Vegas and was a pleasant surprise on stage, winning over fans with his great sense of humour as well as his physique. The Dutchman has an infectious smile, tons of charisma while posing and some of the greatest back muscles on the tour.
His pectoral muscles were also huge, but he couldn't offset with well-defined abdominal muscles. The 34-year-old is rising fast in the world of bodybuilding, however, and the 2016 Arnold Classic Europe could be his breakout competition. Here's a look at some of the work he's been putting in:
With relative homefield advantage due to the contest being in Europe , don't be surprised if Bonac makes a push for the top three.
Mamdouh 'Big Ramy' Elssbiay
Big Ramy arguably should have been on the podium in Las Vegas, after the Egyptian came in lighter than we've seen in previous years but shocked the crowd with his remarkable definition. He even seemed to edge Heath in some shots and would have been a contender for second place had he not come out flat in pre-judging on Friday.
It took him just 24 hours to regain his awesome physique, though, so expectations are high for Barcelona. Bodybuilder-turned-writer Shawn Ray thinks he should be aiming high:
Ramy's legs are an enormous weapon, and he always overwhelms on stage. With Heath not competing, no one will be able to match the pure size of the Egyptian, and that could give him a major head-start going into the posing.
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