February 9, 2004 – The 2004 Italian racing season began today with the 9th running of the 200Km Grand Prix degli Etruschi. The race began in the costal town of San Vincenzo (about 30-minutes north of Pisa) and ran along the coast through Donoratico and Cecina, before turning inland to the hills and olive groves this area is known for. For the Navigators squad, the roads were familiar territory as they have been riding on many of them during training camps the past two years.  In fact, the race course of several large circuits, followed by five 10Km finishing circuits, passed the team's base at the Hotel Zi' Martino in Castegneto-Carducci.

The racing action began shortly after the starter's flag dropped at 11:10 AM as several short-lived attacks by single riders, were launched. However, the majority of riders were more interested in getting properly warmed up in the cool temperatures, as well as being cognizant of the relatively long distance to the finish line. Although the start list was a veritable compilation of Italy's best, including names such as; former World Champion Mario Cipollini and his Domina-Vacanze team, last year's winner Paolo Bettini (Quick Step-Davitamon), Gilberto Simoni (Saeco), Dario Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) and many others, the Navigators Insurance men-in-blue had Marty Nothstein in their ranks, fresh from the European six-day circuit.

With several team members having already raced in Australia's Tour down Under, the Navigators squad was confident in a good finish to this opening race.  At 30Km into the nearly 200Km race, two solo attackers, Mickael Buffaz (R.A.G.T. Semences-MG Rover) and Gabriele Bosisio (Tenax), joined up and began to put distance on the main field.  A two-minute gap climbed up to 12-minutes by 68Km, and that was pretty much the scope of the action for the day.  After peaking out at 12-minutes, the gap began to slowly come down as the distance clicked by beneath their tires.  The escapees lasted to the 170Km mark before being absorbed, making it a 140Km day in the lead.

Unfortunately for the Navigators squad, a bit of bad luck hit as sprinter Marty Nothstein was caught in a crash with 55Km of flat, fast racing remaining.  Although unhurt, he was slow to get up and was out of contention once back on his bike. The Navigators team would have to switch to plan-b for what was going to be a very fast finish, especially as an early-season victory was on the minds of all of the teams and riders. The final  three Kms of racing was as hectic as it was fast, with several crashes claiming many riders including Cipollini, and a number of other sprinters.  With the field now split into several pieces, Navigators' Ciaran Power was able to regain his position near the front, but was caught behind yet another crash just 200M from the finish line, and had to settle for 15th at the line, in scenic Donoratico, with Yuri Mitlushenko (Colnago-Landbokredit) taking the win ahead of Andrus Aug (Domina Vacanze) and Crescenzo D'Amore (Acqua & Sapone). The Navigators Insurance team will head north for more Italian racing in the Liguria region, at the end of the week.

Results (Unofficial): 1. Yuri Mitlushenko (Colnago-Landbokredit) 2. Andrus Aug (Domina Vacanze) 3. Crescenzo D'Amore (Acqua & Sapone) 15. Ciaran Power (Navigators Insurance)