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GS Mengoni USA is a successful amateur cycling
team, having graduated more top amateur cyclists to the
professional ranks than any other amateur team in the United States.
The team races throughout the country from March through September,
winning and placing in many pro-am races.
The team
is known to be internationally diverse; in recent years, it has had riders from Slovakia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Poland, Canada, and the United States. The team's title sponsor, Mr.
Fred Mengoni, is a former competitive cyclist from Italy who has a keen eye for
discovering tomorrow's "stars". He has been supporting
amateur cycling in the U.S. since 1981, and without his incredible support the team's
success would not be possible. (For more about Fred Mengoni, read this article at cyclingnews.com). Since 1991, the team has been managed by
John Issendorf.
Here's some background about the GS Mengoni USA cycling team: |
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The first GS Mengoni team was run from 1981 to 1988. During those years,
Alexi Grewal,
Leonard"Harvey" Nitz,
Wayne Stetina,
Matt Eaton and a "who's who" of the top U.S.
riders rode in the Mengoni colors. They were the only team that could compete
toe-to-toe with the powerful 7-Eleven cycling team. |
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Steve Bauer rode for GS Mengoni in 1984 when he won the silver medal at
the L.A. Olympics. A month later he finished 3rd at the Pro World
Championships (his first pro-only road race!). The next season, he turned pro
for La Vie Claire Professional Cycling Team of France, directly after being on
the Mengoni team. |
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Mike McCarthy rode for GS Mengoni in 1992. That year he won the U.S. Pro
Criterium Championships and the World Professional Pursuit Championships. The
next season, he signed a pro contract for Montgomery Securities Professional
Cycling Team, directly after being on the Mengoni team. |
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George Hincapie rode for GS Mengoni from 1991 to 1993. In 1992, he went to
his first Olympics while riding for GS Mengoni. The next season, he turned pro
for the Motorola Professional Cycling Team, directly after being on the
Mengoni team. |
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Kevin Monahan rode for GS Mengoni in 1994. In 2002, Kevin became the U.S.
Professional Criterium Champion as a member of the 7-Up Professional Cycling
Team. |
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Juan and Oscar Pineda rode for GS Mengoni from 1995 to 1999. In 2000, they
both turned pro for 7-UP Professional Cycling Team, directly after being on
the Mengoni team. |
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Adam Myerson rode for GS Mengoni in 2001 and 2002. In 2003, Adam signed
for the Sportsbook.com Professional Cycling Team, directly after being on the
Mengoni team. |
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Ryan Pinkham and Ross Krause rode for GS Mengoni in 2002. In 2003, both
riders signed for the Sportsbook.com Professional Cycling Team, directly after
being on the Mengoni team. |
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Greg LeMond first met Mr. Mengoni when he was 16.
Immediately recognizing a "star", Fred begged Greg to ride for his team.
But Greg had bigger
fish to fry and was already racing in Italy. Who set-up the connections in
Italy? Fred Mengoni of course. LeMond turned pro when he was 19 for the
Renault-Gitane Professional Cycling Team. The team leader was Bernard Hinault. |
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Fred Mengoni was the co-founder of U.S. Pro Cycling-the first governing
body of Pro Cycling in the United States. He was the president for several
years until it was grouped together with the USCF under "USA Cycling" |
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Fred Mengoni was inducted into the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame in 1994 for his enormous contributions to cycling in the United States. He currently resides in New York City, where he has lived for many years. Mr. Mengoni can often be seen riding in his team kit around Central Park or on the other side of the Hudson River where the roads are more quiet. |
