"I dare say it was the hardest race of the season," says Patrik Herčzík after the Dubai Pro 2023

The classic physique category was extremely strong in Dubai this year. The competitors had to submit to weight limits depending on their height. The undoubted favourite before the competition was Terrence Ruffin from the USA, who has two silver medals from the Classic Physique Olympia and two gold medals from the Arnold Classic North America.

His achievements were unrivalled. Terrence showed excellent form that suggested he was going to win. The judges placed him in the middle of the first semi-final round where he competed against other talented athletes such as Jose Maria Mete Bueriberi, Chen Kang, Abou Konate, Fabio Junio and Wesley Vissers. Patrik Herčzík, the only Czech athlete, was given a chance in the second round, although it was clear that he would not make the top five. Nevertheless, he did very well in the competition of brutally strong rivals.

The award ceremony subsequently confirmed the expected result. Terrence Ruffin, still only twenty-nine years old, scored his seventh victory among the professionals and thus qualified for the Classic Physique Olympia. This November race offers him the opportunity to make amends for his failure last year when he finished sixth.

After his recent triumph at the Europa Pro, Wesley Vissers was expected to be his biggest competitor in Dubai. However, in the end Fabio Junio, champion at this year's Xtreme Pro Mexico, took second place, and Wesley Vissers took bronze. Patrik Hercsik achieved an excellent seventh place, beating even experienced competitors like Valeri Enchev and Valentin Petrov, who were his rivals at last year's Classic Physique Olympia.

Patik had the following to say on his social media after the race:

@dubai_pro_event is history. I dare say it was the hardest race of the season. Out of a total of 29 competitors I take 7th place. I would be lying if I wrote that I didn't want to win, everyone wants to win. I never trust a competitor who says they don't want to but that doesn't mean that seventh place is a disappointment. Yes I could have been one place better and finished in the top 6 and it would have been absolutely perfect but.... But I'm keeping my feet on the ground and being realistic. I know my weaknesses and that I will never be Mr.O

My goal was to finish in the top half of the starting field and to compare myself with the narrow top of the sport and I surpassed that even beating the riders who were mentioned by the world media as the hottest candidates for the just mentioned TOP6, I also beat the rider who beat me in the previous two races this year. One would say that in our biased sport this skipping has no weight, but let's face it, the head judge in Dubai was Steve Weinberger, who is also the head judge of the biggest competition in the world - Olympia. And if Steve himself sees me above the reach of such experienced competitors as @ruff_diesel @wesleyvissers @madelman_, it gives me a clear signal of who I am and where I belong.

I am disappointed about one thing though. And that's from the races themselves. I expected much more from Dubai.... Organizationally it was not well managed from the PRO meet itself to the races. Dubai boasts of luxury and grandeur. The races promised record prizemoney and apart from the biggest stage and a giant backstage there was actually nothing, In the PRO division it is a kind of "standard" that competitors get from sponsors e.g. (sweatshirts, t-shirts, shakers, proteins, towels, etc...) here except for the starting number they got nothing.

I don't want to sound like a greedy Czech, but I simply expected much more in all respects for "Dubai". Finally, I would like to thank my fans for their incredible support, @martin.kolar.evls for his accompaniment and help during the races and sponsors/partners. Next stop - France!

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