It doesn't matter if they were actually on your wheel while you bridged, you gave them a carrot to follow, and no reason to hold back or look at each other.
Indeed. Not just giving them an incentive, or a carrot, but staying in their wheel basically does the opposite. Not just because they would need to work more, but knowing they would bring a fresh guy (rival) to the front, while they tire themselves if they tried to bridge is usually enough of a reason not to bother. The moment however you make the jump, you are making as much if not more of an effort to bridge than them. There is no reason for them not to try and follow.
Amazing how so many people do not understand how that works.