So while they're expecting you to wait for the sprint why don't you try a few other elements of racecraft over the next couple of races:

the long, determined breakaway
short, savage, but half-hearted attacks
or my personal favourite, the 'block and run' (ie. leave an increasing gap to the main bunch then sprint across it leaving your foe behind)

you might not win, but you'll find out what you can and can't do in a race.