December 14, 2006 – The Navigators Insurance Cycling Team announced a planned collaboration with the Belgian based Cycling Center today as part of the team’s effort increase its investment in the growth and development of American cycling.

The Cycling Center, based in Hertsberge Belgium, just 20 km from the picturesque and cycling famous city of Brugge, will serve as the European base for the Navigators Insurance Professional Cycling Team as it continues to expand the European part of its race schedule. In addition, the Cycling Center based amateur team will serve as a developmental program for America’s longest running professional cycling team.

With 15 years of experience, the Cycling Center offers a comfortable and supportive structure for ambitious American amateurs to experience European racing and culture, while getting competent training, tactical advice and coaching. Working in close communication with the Navigators Insurance Team’s staff, the team hopes to monitor the progress of the CC Elite Team’s athletes, and assist in their development towards the pro ranks.

Navigators team manager Ed Beamon commented; “the Cycling Center relationship offers us an opportunity to strengthen our ties with developing American talent, and hopefully provide an opportunity to guide a few young riders toward the professional ranks. We have had several members of the team who have come through the Cycling Center system, and now we will have the opportunity to pay closer attention and offer some direction in the development of these young guys.” Former Navigators riders Jeff Louder and Brian Sheedy were both Cycling Center “graduates”, and 2007 team member Kristian House, and Team Training Analyst Craig Upton were former CC team members as well. “In addition, we are going to have three riders that we have been working with since they were juniors now join the CC program as part of our interest in helping them get to the next level.”

Cycling Center’s Bernard Moerman offered “this is an opportunity that we have been waiting several years for. We have strong ties to the Belgian cycling community, but our real mission is and has been to work with American athletes, and provide a comfortable yet competitive environment for them to grow as cyclists, and hopefully professionals. We offer the structure and the support to allow them to rapidly learn what is required to become a professional in this very demanding sport. Now, in working with the Navigators, we have an opportunity to see exactly what a top professional team is looking for in a developing amateur, and we will be able to feed their staff information regarding our top guys.”

“I think it is an important step for the team” continued Beamon. “We have always been very passionate about helping develop and grow the sport in the United States, and this is the next step we feel we need to take. To have the chance to work closely with the young, ambitious guys, and have access to the data that should help us determine who has the stuff to get to the next level. I think another really important aspect of this is the Cycling Center’s commitment and passion for “˜Clean Sport’. We want to be working in an environment where these young guys are learning how to win and be competitive based on their hard work, focus, and determination, and that’s a message they are going to get in this program”

The Navigators will add four new Americans to their 18 man professional roster for 2007. USA Amateur Road Champion Matt Cooke, joins former U-23 National team member Michael Wolf, and former Georgetown University Cross Country running star David Rodriguez as first year professionals. Kyle Wamsley brings his winning ways from the Colavita team, and Phil Zajicek and Bernard Van Ulden continue their pro careers with the 07 squad. The team’s final signing for 2007 is the UK’s Kristian House, a former Great Britain national team member and member of their World renowned track program. 2000 Olympic Champion Marty Nothstein retires from the sport this year, as does the Russian Rocket, Vassili Davidenko. Davidenko will take on a role in management, as he continues to be an integral part of the team for 2007, and Nothstein continues to have close ties to the team organization.

The 2007 team Roster:

– Ben Brooks (AUS)
– Glen Chadwick (NZL)
– Hilton Clarke (AUS)
– Matt Cooke (USA)
– Benjamin Day (AUS)
– Oleg Grishkin (RUS)
– Kristian House (GBR)
– Valeriy Kobzarenko (UKR)
– Sergey Lagutin (UZB)
– Darren Lill (RSA)
– David O’Loughlin (IRL)
– Ciaran Power (IRL)
– Viktor Rapinski (BLR)
– David Rodriguez (USA)
– Bernard Van Ulden (USA)
– Kyle Wamsley (USA)
– Michael Wolf (USA)
– Phil Zajicek (USA)

The team begins the season at the Jacobs Creek Tour Down Under in Adelaide Australia January 16th-21st, and then ventures back to the USA for training camp. Albuquerque New Mexico will be the site of the team’s first full meeting, and they will be joined by their “sister team” TEAm Lipton and the Cycling Center Developmental team as well. “Albuquerque is a great location for a training camp” said Vassili Davidenko. “It sits at 5000 ft, has great roads, and is a really cool and friendly community. I think its perfect for bike riding, and we plan to give the teams some good training there.”

The Navigators Group, Inc. is an international insurance holding company with insurance company operations, underwriting management companies and operations at Lloyd’s of London. Navigators primarily underwrites marine insurance and related lines of business, contractor’s general liability, and professional liability insurance. Headquartered in New York City, Navigators has offices in major insurance centers in the United States and the United Kingdom. Navigators, one of the largest marine insurers in the world, is committed to the principles of underwriting excellence and to providing quality service to its clients. Navigators is rated ‘A’ (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company and ‘A’ (Strong) by Standard & Poors. The Navigators Group, Inc. is traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol NAVG.

Look for the Navigators Insurance Cycling Team in these upcoming events:
www.navpro.com/schedule/

Additional Navigators Insurance Cycling Team Sponsors include:

– COLNAGO Bicycles – www.trialtir-usa.com/2006-colnago/colnago.htm
– LAS Helmets – www.trialtir-usa.com/2007-las/las-mp.htm
– BIEMME Cycling Wear – www.biemmesport.com/sp/eng/
– STELLA AZZURRA Handle Bars, Stems and bar tape – www.stellaazzurra.com/
– TRIALTIR imports – www.trialtir-usa.com/
– SPEEDPLAY Pedals – www.speedplay.com/
– SELLE ITALIA Saddles – www.selleitalia.com/
– CAMPAGNOLO Groups & Wheels – www.campagnolo.com/home.php
– OVAL CONCEPTS Aero bars & Forks – www.ovalconcepts.com
– RUDY PROJECT Eyewear – www.rudyprojectusa.com/
– DeFEET Socks – www.defeet.com/
– DeFEET Undergarments – www.defeet.com/
– CLIF BAR Energy Bars – www.clifbar.com/
– CLIF SHOT Energy Drinks – www.clifbar.com/eat/shot_drink
– CAT EYE Computers & Heart-Rate Monitors – www.cateye.com/
– THULE Car Rack Systems – www.thuleracks.com/thule/default.asp
– THOMSON Seatposts – www.lhthomson.com/
– KOOL-STOP Brake Pads – www.koolstop.com/brakes/brakes.html
– SCI-CON Bicycle & Wheel Bags – www.albabici.com/sci-con/sci-con-main.htm
– PEDROS Lubricants/Cleaners/Polishes – www.pedros.com/
– ARUNDEL Bottle Cages – www.arundelbike.com/index.html
– ULTIMATE Bicycle Service Stands – www.ussbike.com/
– SKS – Pumps and Accessories – www.sks-germany.com
– HIGH GEAR CYCLERY – www.highgearcyclery.com/site/intro.cfm
– TELLURIAN www Design, Maintenance & Hosting – www.tellurian.com/

www.navpro.com
www.navigators-insurance.com