The Mengoni Grand Prix is one of three open races hosted every year in Central Park. The race honors Fred Mengoni, a staunch supporter and sponsor of bike racing including GS Mengoni, which groomed numerous elite and professional riders, as well as co-founding US Pro Cycling, which eventually merged under the overall umbrella of USA Cycling and earned Mr. Mengoni a place in the Cycling Hall of Fame in 1994. Read more about Mr. Mengoni and his cycling achievements here. As Velonews wrote:
His lasting impact is measured across generations. He backed the GS Mengoni team in the 1980s, which helped such riders as Steve Bauer, Leonard Nitz and Doug Shapiro, among others, start their racing careers. Mengoni was also an early backer of Greg LeMond, and the pair remained friends for life. The 1990s version of the team was key to starting the careers of George Hincapie and Mike McCarthy among others in the New York City racing scene.