That's about exactly how it is. A never-was masters rider like me gets different information than the kids who are going to win elite nats.

The reality is that you can coach many riders at once if that means an hour a week of going through power meter files and training plans. But really teaching tactics takes riding with clients, attending races, riding or driving a support car in races and more. In other words a much larger time commitment. That is why many new riders learn more tactics from experienced team mates that are actually in the same races and group rides as them then they can learn through a coach. I don't think coaches are hiding secrets or at least not writing them down to keep a competitive edge. I just think it is tough to teach without direct involvement.

Still, I think a well written, entertaining book on race tactics would be welcome by a lot of riders.

It's hard to keep a secret when the races are held in plain view of everyone. And I think there's a lot more than just a few basic principles. What I've seen from watching and announcing a million races, there's a lot more that can be done in a race than most riders are aware of.
Where I live, riders know one tactic: get a teammate in the break, and shut the field down. That's it.
Very dull racing.

Combined field races where you have teammates in both fields can lead to very interesting tactics. Sometimes working for one teammate is working against the other. Then you have to decide which one has the better chances. Fun stuff.

I learn tactics by marking Glenn Swan during races. Talking to him is also good. Unfortunately, his internet presence consists of sporadic mailing-list posts.

Team London (ONT) does this, every time.

So, what do you and your teammates do to foil this stratagem? Can you enlist other teams in the effort? It has to be chapping them as well.

usually there are only two of us, sometimes three. We can't bring them back alone. The London guys are usually 6 or so. So far it's been tough getting commitments from others.

One of my teammates got into a break with a London guy early in the season that lasted until a mile to go. One of the other canadian powerhouse teams brought it back.

Find another team and work with them.

I am close with a number of our guys so I don't intend to leave them. I should also add that as my form improves it becomes more likely that I am te guy who makes the break along with the London guy.

What I meant to say is make an alliance with another team. Sorry for the confusion.

that is what I meant by "it's been tough getting commitments from others"

So the other teams are content with letting this one team win everything? Sigh.

yep.

Yes. That's why track racing is a great environment for learning to race better-- each field usually races multiple races per omnium, most of the races are more complicated than just a simple scratch race, and you (or at least spectators) can see the whole race the whole time as it plays out. And people still miss a lot of what's going on.

Can't stop a juggernaut eh?

nah. you guys are all sandbagging dopers.

Probably.

Is it part of national healthcare?

Problem with marking uber strong riders is that they're uber strong. I've gotten shelled off of leadout trains just moving to the front of the field, forget about making any moves (i.e. my teammates shelled me, not other folks' trains). I can try and mark Paul Curley or Pat Gellineau or some other regulars (gstein?) but the problem is that they're really strong so they can sit in the wind for those 5 or 15 seconds regularly. I can't do that - for a long time my goal was to see less than 60 seconds of wind before the sprint because any time I saw 30 seconds in a row in the wind I was off the back. They talk about matches? I had one match for many years. I'd use it in the sprint because it was the only way I could win or place.

I have to admit that as Pat G gets closer to 60 (57 last year?) I can think about beating him and I have. But until 52 or 53 years old he could still destroy me. Paul C is tougher to beat.

I like both statements.

I like reading the race reports from super squadra..

https://supersquadra.net/

A couple teams in our area hold tactics clinics in the early season. I'm going to one in early Jan and will report my experience.

Yeah there are a few blogs and sources that are great - Steve Tilford's blog is a gold mine of wisdom for example. Back before their re-vamp, Cyclingnews used to have these great detailed race reports that really gave a good insight to how and why the race developed the way it did - I learned a lot from those.

This.

Last few races I've done everybody was focused on me. In two cases they other guys ride off for the win.

Glenn doesn't have any time to train any more. So marking him is not as much of an issue as it once was.