lol ok perhaps my initial summary was lacking some detail . . . obviously you should be able to ease up a bit and a few people will pass you, but it was more nuanced than that.

basically there were like 4 or 5 fast guys in the B group, myself included, and I know them all pretty well. right from the start the 5 of us and a couple other riders were strung out single file up front, then a small bunch in the rear tagging along. I was third in line, and two riders peeled off after taking their turn on the front like a normal paceline, but when I got to the front, with a lap or two to go until the first sprint, they just stayed put. when I slowed, everyone slowed. when I moved over, the paceline behind me moved over. they just made me work and wouldn't come around. with about a half lap to the prime someone came up on my right towing my friend who attacked hard, but I caught his wheel, used the banking on the corner to get a sling, and drag raced him to the line. I beat him by half a wheel, but I was totally anaerobic at that point, and never recovered.

how could I combat that or counter attack it?