Chris Bumstead is on the precipice of making a historic jump from Classic Physique to the Men’s Open. In a recent YouTube video shared on November 1, 2024, Bumstead discussed his foray into the Open class and gave his honest expectations heading into the 2024 EVLS Prague Pro, taking place November 16-17.
At the 60th Joe Weider’s Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend, Chris Bumstead walked away as one of the biggest winners. He narrowly defeated runner-up Mike Sommerfeld by three points on the scorecards to clinch his highly sought-after sixth consecutive Olympia title in Classic Physique.
Shortly after being honored with the first prize, ‘Cbum’ emotionally announced his retirement. However, his time away from the sport was short-lived. Before settling into a life of retirement, Bumstead shocked the world, revealing plans to compete in the Men’s Open division at the 2024 EVLS Prague Pro, which will be his first bodybuilding contest overseas. In light of the huge changes, he updated fans on where his head is at as he approaches the major event.
Chris Bumstead Talks Decision to Move Into Open Class, Has Doubts About Winning 2024 EVLS Prague Pro
First, Bumstead updated fans on his weight, and goal to put on more size before the Prague Pro.
“We are two weeks out, two weeks and two days out of my Open debut. So, I’ve been eating pretty good I’m not going to lie. My body has been handling a lot of food so I’ve been enjoying it.”
He underscored that he and Hany Rambod have a plan moving forward. He is happy to not have to concern himself with ‘sucking down’ for a weight cap anymore.
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“I should probably start cutting back soon. Me and Hany we got a plan but he keeps telling me to eat, my weight is not going up. I’m enjoying the food. I definitely lost a healthy amount of muscle sucking down to make weight” Bumstead explained.
He says snapping back into dieting has been challenging since he thought he was retiring.
“Coming back to the gym now, I’ve never ever in 10 years I haven’t had to do a show after a show. I’ve always done the Olympia and been done for the year. Just don’t care how I look and go eat.
Getting back on diet, like full tilt diet, competition prep, it’s hard. I had to shut off something in my brain. I’m retired I never have to do this again, I’m not getting on stage at Olympia and it’s hard for me to get back in that grind mode.”
“I’m in the Open so I’m trying to be huge.”
As for his expectations, Bumstead’s honest take is that he doesn’t think he’s going to win.
“Do I expect to win? I’ll probably fuck around and make some jokes with Martin but I’ve instilled my genuine, my actual confidence not what I portray as confidence, my actual feeling of confidence and self-belief in myself by being very honest with myself and being realistic with my expectations…and my realistic honest expectations is I don’t think I’m going to win.”
Nevertheless, he plans to give the competitors in Prague a run for their money and wants to look his best.
“I’m still going to try my hardest to look my best. And if I can give these guys a run for their money with zero time prepping to be an Open Bodybuilder, the opposite, losing some muscle to make weight, bouncing back, having a good time and looking good and full up there.
Like I never had a chance to really just not care about being dry and tight on stage and making weight and just being full as fuck…I can do that and have fun and not spill over and look like a water buffalo, that would be a fucking grand old time.”
Chris Bumstead will face an imposing lineup in Prague at his first Open show since 2016. If he hopes to take home the victory, he’ll have to get through Martin Fitzwater, who just took fourth place at the Open Mr. Olympia, registering easily the most impressive performance of his budding career. And that’s not all. Horse MD (Marcello De Angelis) will also be in attendance, aiming to knock Bumstead down a peg.
There are a myriad of questions surrounding Bumstead’s sudden move to the Open. If he wins in Prague, will he compete in the Open at the Mr. Olympia? And how would he stack up against top-tier Open threats on the Olympia stage like Samson Dauda? In time, these questions will be answered. Don’t miss the 2024 EVLS Prague Pro taking place this month!
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