Mano a Mano

Glaubenbuelen Pass was Day 7's profiled climb, and it promised to be fairly easy, 15.6 km at an average of 4.6% although the last 5 km showed 7 - 9%. It wasn't easy. Once again, the on-the-ground experience didn't match the profile as the Garmins kept registering 10% and 12% ramps. To a man, our legs were tired, effectively adding another 2% to the climbing impression.

Markham and Charles, though, were undeterred-- when they hit the upturn at km 10 they were abreast in an unspoken duel up the last 5 km. It was mano a mano. Both had a point to make. Charles had taken considerable ribbing for his off-day before the KOM race up Susten Pass; Markham had consistently been the strongest rider up every climb except Susten and Furka. Glaubenbuelen was turning into a tie-breaker of sorts.

They quickly dropped Rick and I as they surged up some switchbacks. After 4.5 of the 5 km they were still even, then Charles amped it up to 325 watts and held it there for the final .5 km to lead Markham into a view overlook near the top. It was a bravura performance and indisputable validation of Charles' KOM title on Susten. I assume they exchanged a fist-bump of mutual respect, although truth be told, I didn't arrive in time to see it. Rick followed them into the overlook a couple minutes later.

The only problem was--the view overlook wasn't the summit of Glaubenbuelen. They had blown each other up and stopped 0.5 km short! This, conveniently, allowed me to channel my hero, Howie, and steadily pedal past them on my way to the top, where, arriving first, I raised my thumb and index finger to shoot the summit sign in triumph.