Warm up well, line up on the front, and mentally prepare yourself to go really hard for the first 2-3 minutes to get and stay towards the front (not at the front). This will get you significantly further in the race than 2-3 laps if you're ready to go hard versus trying to ease into it.
Stay on the outside rather than the middle of the group. You can't move up in the middle, and you end up going backwards as those on the side move up.
Once you're at the back, you're likely to be done soon after, so don't go there. Keep moving up on the sides.