Who will win this year’s Arnold?

With six-time defending champion Zydrunas Savickas taking this year’s competition off, this year’s Arnold Classic field is as wide open as it’s been since in over six years…or is it?

American Derek Poundstone has been a force in the sport of pro strongman for over the last year. He has won or been runner up in virtually every competition he has entered.

Poundstone was second in this year’s “World’s Strongest Man” competition held in West Virginia to five-time WSM champion Mariusz Pudzianowski of Poland.

The police officer from Connecticut was second to Savickas in last year’s Arnold. So it is not going out on a limb to pick Poundstone to win this year’s Arnold even if Pudzianowski should show up to compete.

This show has never been kind to the WSM staple. Pudzianowski has not competed in he show over the last few years and would be a surprise if he did show up.

American Travis Ortmayer has had bad luck with injuries at this event. If his luck changes to good this year, He could be a factor as could Estonia’s Andrus Murumets and Phil Pfister of the USA.

Our order of finish at this year’s Arnold Strongman Classic:

1. Derek Poundstone

2. Phil Pfister

3. Travis Ortmayer

4. Dave Ostlund

5. Andrus Murumets

6. Mikhail Koklyaev

7. Oleksandr Pekanov

8. Vidas Blekaitis

9. Ervin Katona

10. Brian Siders

If Pudzianowski competes he will finish 7th.