Originally Posted by YMCA
Blocking is not a waste of time and is a very useful tactic. At technical crits, it is simple, just slow the pack through the corners, without endangering others.
AT RR's or wide open crits, you have to be more subtle, but setting a light tempo is one strategy. And of course, jumping on moves discourages the riders trying to bridge and will sometimes get you across to a break without even having to work.
Never discount good blocking tactics, but never use them in unsafe ways.
Agree. Setting a Tempo is much more effective than just going to the front and stopping. Im not discounting the tactic, have used it on many occasions, it just seems to be very misunderstood and misapplied.