Blossoms and Bike Racing: the Mengoni GP Gallery
As we wrote about back in 2023, the Mengoni Grand Prix has long been one of the most prestigious races in New York City. The race enjoys a long history including national champions and Tour de France riders during its heyday. For those unfamiliar with Fred Mengoni and his legacy in bike racing, especially in NYC, we suggest you check out this post: the Mengoni Grand Prix.
The Mengoni Grand Prix has become a more grassroots effort in recent years. And through a bit of unfortunate luck it has seemed to feature its fair share of chaos. There was the 2019 race where disputed results led to frustration for volunteers and staff members. And the 2023 edition when several fields blended together. For this year, the chaos came from two NYPD SUV’s who blocked the finish line during the Elite Men’s race.
That disruption notwithstanding, it was a spectacular morning for bike racing in the heart of New York City, one that reminds us that for all its shortcomings, we’re fortunate to have the opportunity to race bikes in Central Park. A big thank you as always to CRCA for making races like the Mengoni Grand Prix happen!
