Originally Posted by
YMCA
The OP's question has no right answer.
Racing is instinctual.
Technique, tactics and teamwork apply first.
Fitness (while very important), plays second fiddle.
So, I suppose until you feel comfortable enough with the fundamentals, a PM won't help all that much.
And I can't imagine any coach instructing a lower cat rider to use one in a race. Yikes!
Yeah, there's not much use for power data in a race. Maybe if you're in a small breakaway, that has an established gap, you could start using it for pacing. Maybe.
Regarding tactics, my power data heavily influenced my tactical decisions this season. Once I realized I wasn't the sprinter I thought I was, but had a 1m power that stood out, I was able to turn that into a new arrow for the quiver. I never would have considered attacking from 750m before.