Telling IronMind®, "We had a perfect start in Riga," World Strongman Cup Manager Martin Muhr, summed up Mariusz Pudzianowski's win by saying, "Mariusz was not from this planet."

Muhr said the contest "[drew] about 3,500 people, [had] very good weather and a lineup of guys from the best in the world. We had six competitors from the Worlds last years [2005 World's Strongest Man contest] and the others are also some of the best guys in the world."

"It was a perfectly organized competition," said Muhr, "with six good events and a fight between Mariusz Pudzianowski and Raivis Vidzis, but Mariusz was not from this planet and he won four events of six. But all guys show the power on the first competition this year in Riga from World Strongman Cup. For the American Dave Ostlund and for the Canadian Dominic Filiou was not the best Event; the Europeans are in a better shape in the beginning of the year.

"The next competition is in Belfast 27 May, with Glenn Ross and Svend Karlsen."

Final places and points were:

1. Mariusz Pudzianowski 69 points
2. Raivis Vidzis 57.5
3. Elbrus Nigmatullin 47.5
4. Tarmo Mitt 46
5. Terry Hollands 44
6. Dominic Filiou 40
7. Antanas Abrutis 35
8. Franz Beil 33
9. Dave Ostlund 31.5
10. Ralf Ber 30.5
11. Guntars Kushins 21.5
12. Oleg Dudkin 6.5