[kbiker3111]

Weight lifting can help (but lets not argue about that). Standing (track) starts help build strength. Practicing sprint intervals helps top end power. Anaerobic intervals (1-2 minutes) help you build power so you don't fade at the end of a long run up. Most of all, you need to practice getting to the front of a race and holding your position, otherwise power doesn't matter.

Boonen schooled Farrar at Eneco last year despite having considerably less speed. He did it all with positioning and technique.

 

[kbiker3111]

I've been working on improving my sprint lately, as you've described the field can really come apart towards the end of a race. To simulate how tired I might be I've been sprinting at the end of all of my intervals. Hill repeats? End with a sprint. Tabatas? End with a sprint. 2 X 20's? End with a sprint. It hurts but my results have improved greatly since last year.

Mark Cav goes on a 4 hour ride and then does a single all out sprint. Apparently it works for him.