Mel Pinto (September 9, 1923 – March 28, 2021) was one of the first importers of European racing bikes into the United States in 1958 when he opened Mel Pinto Imports in

northern Virginia Northern Virginia, locally referred to as NOVA or NoVA, comprises several counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. It is a widespread region radiating westward and southward from Washington, D.C. Wit ...

and began selling

Gitane Gitane is a French manufacturer of bicycles based in Machecoul, France; the name "Gitane" means gypsy woman. The brand was synonymous with French bicycle racing from the 1960s through the mid-1980s, sponsoring riders such as Jacques Anquetil (1963 ...

bicycles on consignment. Later, Pinto was the first to import

Shimano , originally and later , is a Japanese multinational manufacturing company for cycling components, fishing tackles and rowing equipment, who also produced golf supplies until 2005 and snowboarding gear until 2008. Named after founder Shozaburo ...

’s

Dura-Ace , originally and later , is a Japanese multinational manufacturing company for cycling components, fishing tackles and rowing equipment, who also produced golf supplies until 2005 and snowboarding gear until 2008. Named after founder Shozabu ...

components into the U.S. In 1960, Pinto became a founding member of the Federation of Washington Area Bicycle Clubs, now known as the National Capital Velo Club, and in 1963 revived the moribund National Capital Open bicycle race in

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

, reestablishing it as an annual event on

The Ellipse The Ellipse (sometimes referred to as President's Park South) is a park south of the White House fence and north of Constitution Avenue and the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The Ellipse is also the name of the circumference street within t ...

until the race's demise in 1988. Pinto sold Mel Pinto Imports in 2009 and resided in Virginia outside of Washington, D.C. until his death in 2021.

References

1923 births 2021 deaths {{US-cycling-bio-stub