World leader [2]Rico Freimuth (GER), Götzis winner[3] Damian Warner (CAN) had shown solid performances throughout the season.

Ilya Shkurenev (ANA) had scored more than 8600 points, but hadn't been competing with the rest of the decathletes for nearly two years because of the ban of the Russian team.

In the shot put, Meyer assumed the lead with the second best throw 15.72 m (51 ft 6+3⁄4 in) behind Lindon Victor (GRN) 15.86.

Kazmirek moved into second place with the best high jump of the day 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in), but Mayer maintained the lead as one of several to clear 2.08 m. And Kazmirek ended the first day still in second with the best 400 of 47.17 as Mayer's 48.26 kept him close enough to maintain the lead.

Starting the second day, Warner's 13.63 hurdles put him back in third, with Freimuth and Mayer close behind to take the top two positions.

Kazmirek beat Freimuth by three and a half seconds in the race, but still finished 76 points behind him in the final tally.