Road Bike Racing - when do you train for breakaways?, bridging gaps?

if a group ride is race pace but the guys dont race when is it ok to breakaway ? maybe so long as one pulls at the front maybe longer than the others is it then ok to breakway from a race pace group ride and work on sprints etc breakaways?
or should i just stick with the fast pace finish together with the group and work on intervals alone? how and when does one develop skills like this?

If there's an unwritten rule that no one is to attack your group ride, then only do it once and let them yell at you.
But if there's no rule, then have at it. It's like playing with the air currents outside your car window. See what happens when you try new stuff.

race pace rides are usually attended by guys who want to hammer. Most likley if you jump someone will follow.

i usually try to ride with the race guys club ride in the weekend. its mainly just fast pace line etc. all other rides are alone. i have fell in with a once maybe twice a week group they ride hard and fast. i did a breakaway after 17 miles . they from what i heard felt like i used their draft then sped away. anyway i guess maybe if i pull longer maybe i can split at the last and work on my own thing. i guess i need to keep seeking out guys that want to work on race skills during the week.

These rides usually have pre-planned sprint & breakaway points. Usually to the top of a hill's a prize of some sort. You can try sprinting halfway up, or you can try to break away early. Or there may be a sprint to a hotel sign or some other landmark. As long as everyone knows about these spots, it's fair game!

Group rides are for training IN breaks. I.e. rotating in a small group (4-6 people).

Solo rides are for developing strength to MAKE the break, chase it down or go solo.

Working on intervals alone is good practice, especially when training for a specific goal or skill.
But nothing beats group training rides for learning strategies and improving your racing "aggressiveness."
For me, that's the whole point of group riding...to gain racing skills and fitness....to get used to the surges and attacks and to ride with guys stronger than you that push you. Also to practice group riding skills. If no one's attacking and it's just a steady pace....then you might as well go time trialing on your own or motorpacing. But that's just what I want out of a group ride....at least while in season.

Working on intervals alone is good practice, especially when training for a specific goal or skill.
But nothing beats group training rides for learning strategies and improving your racing "aggressiveness."
For me, that's the whole point of group riding...to gain racing skills and fitness....to get used to the surges and attacks and to ride with guys stronger than you that push you. Also to practice group riding skills. If no one's attacking and it's just a steady pace....then you might as well go time trialing on your own or motorpacing. But that's just what I want out of a group ride....at least while in season.


+1 I think it's good to do a combination of rides. Group stuff to work on handling random speed surges (which can be difficult to mimmick on your own), and solo rides to work at your own pace of % of threshold