At ECCC championships this spring I lined up way in the back on a technical course and knew that I needed to move up ASAP. It probably didn't hurt that I was one of the stronger riders in the race, but I just drilled it for the first 10 laps or so, never resting for too long, gaining 2-3 positions on each stretch. I also took advantage of what tkp said and moved up a lot on one part of the course where the pace would slow. when I finally made it near the front, I just carried my momentum from drilling it to move up, broke away, and got 2nd