The 2024 Arnold Classic is rapidly approaching, prompting participants to make the most of each gym session before showtime. In a recent YouTube video, Classic Physique contenders Urs Kalecinski and Wesley Vissers teamed up for a brutal day of back training before competing in Columbus, Ohio.
“We both are 21 days out, guys you’re going to see a good training session from both of us. Twenty-one days from Ohio. The big dance. Yeah, happy he made it,” said Kalecinski.
All eyes have shifted to the 35th annual Arnold Classic, which is set to host a historic event, which will include the Classic Physique division. Last year, Ramon Rocha Queiroz cemented himself as champion, thanks to his structure and conditioning levels. Meanwhile, Germany’s Urs Kalecinski trailed behind in second place.
Having shared a rivalry with Queiroz for quite some time, Urs Kalecinski is eager to assert himself as the biggest threat in the division outside of the reigning five-time Classic Physique Olympia kingpin Chris Bumstead. With an opportunity to etch his name into history books, Kalecinski aims to present his all-time best.
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Alongside Queiroz, Kalecinski will be tasked with facing a lineup of top-tier talent, including former two-time Classic Physique Olympia winner Breon Ansley, as well as rising contender Wesley Vissers, whose symmetry and aesthetics remain hallmarks of his growing recognition.
Urs Kalecinski and Wesley Vissers Smoke a Heavy Duty Back Workout During Their 2024 Arnold Classic Prep
Check out Urs Kalecinski’s and Wesley Visser’s workout list below:
- Lat pulldown Machine — 2 sets 9 reps (3 partials)
- Seated Cable Row Machine — 3 sets 7-10 reps (3 partials)
- One Arm Cybex Eagle Row Machine — 4 sets 4-7 reps
- Standing Cable Rope Lat Pushdowns — 2 sets, 5-8 reps (2 partials)
- Assisted Pull-Ups Machine — 1 set 9 reps
Lat pulldown Machine
Kalecinski prefers to train his upper back to start, mentioning that he currently includes back day twice in his weekly routine.
“Lat pulldowns, actually not for the lat, more like the upper back, Terry’s muscles. It’s my second back day of the week. I don’t split it up like some guys do. One lat-focused day, for me, it’s always everything. This time, I start more with the upper back.”
Wesley discussed his general training routine for the 2024 Arnold Classic.
“Well, I actually do everything the same frequency but the workouts themselves, the volume for legs is the biggest, for back it’s medium, for chest, it’s the lowest because I don’t believe for a small muscle that you need like 20 sets a workout. The back is bigger so I automatically do a bit more volume.”
Seated Cable Row Machine
Kalecinski drew a comparison between the lackluster pumps he achieves during contest prep versus what his body is capable of in the off-season.
“We try to keep up the strength because right now, chasing an enormous pump it’s yeah, it can’t happen with some pumps, but definitely not comparable to an off-season pump where you do one feeder set and your whole back is blowing up.”
One Arm Cybex Eagle Row Machine
Next, Kalecinski opened up on the struggles of improving a weak body part.
“I was so finally for Wes when his legs were finally growing. I know he did everything for it and then when you see the results, it’s what I can guarantee you, always look at those guys with a weak body parts but you also have to try to improve it because I can’t tell you, a lot of us lack leg training.”
Standing Cable Rope Lat Pushdowns
Urs Kalecinski favors a failure-based approach to muscle building, a program that former six-time Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates swears by.
“If something is not working good, so if that happened, you need to see that you bump up the intensity, work out harder in the set, go to muscle failure which is going to give you the best results in terms of muscle building and don’t extend too much sets.”
“Try to keep the sets very hard and intense,” adds Kalecinski.
Assisted Pull-Ups Machine
To finish off the training session, ‘The Miracle Bear’ and Vissers talked about their preference for pull-ups as a finisher.
“Jay Cutler mentioned it as well [doing pull-ups throughout his career],” shared Vissers.
“I always have like the picture of it in my mind, like open up the back double and it also helps me when I squeeze up and you know okay, that’s how it’s going to look on stage so,” explains Kalecinski.
Judging by the degree of conditioning Kalecinski is displaying in recent physique updates, fans believe he has a solid shot at dethroning Queiroz. In addition, the Classic Physique division underwent a height and weight cap rule change, which Kalecinski has capitalized on with added size.
Should Urs Kalecinski pull ahead of Queiroz and former champion Breon Ansley, he will establish himself as the number one contender to Bumstead’s Olympia title when the event celebrates its 60th anniversary from October 10-13 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Following his back workout with Wesley Vissers, it’s evident both men intend to bring all-time best looks.
RELATED: Urs Kalecinski Flaunts Shredded Physique 9 Weeks from 2024 Arnold Classic
You can watch the full video from Urs Kalecinski’s YouTube channel below:
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