Jingle Cross is honored to have Friday’s C1 races named in honor of Chris Lillig and sponsored by River Products Company. The Chris Lillig Memorial Cup has been a staple on the Midwest cycling circuit since 1996. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chris Lillig Memorial Cup could not occur in 2000 or 2021. To honor Chris’s legacy, this year’s C1 races will bear his name – made possible by River Products Company, a long-time partner of Chris Lillig Memorial Cup.
A prominent member of the Iowa City and Midwest cycling community, Chris Lillig was tragically killed by a drunk driver while riding his bike in 1996. A devastating loss for everyone that knew him, Chris’s passing still affects the local community.
“It is important to celebrate Chris’s memory, and I am proud that we can continue that legacy in the absence of the Memorial Cup,” said Jingle Cross promoter John Meehan. “The C1 races are some of the most competitive and will be broadcast globally on GCN and live on EuroSport in Europe. It will be great to have Chris’s memory be part of the event and be able to share his love of cycling with people around the world.”
River Products Company and Chris are forever connected. Chris was the company’s accountant and was beloved by his coworkers. From this connection and his friendship with Chris, Tom Scott, owner and CEO of River Products Company, has generously and emotionally supported the memory of Chris through Chris’s love of cycling.
“Chris was five years old when I first met him,” said River Products Owner Tom Scott. “I witnessed him growing up through his adolescence, teenager and young adult years. He was a typical boy growing up, full of mischief, but always a serious and model student, graduating from the University of Iowa with an Accounting degree in 1986. Chris worked summers for RPC from 1982 through 1986. He came to work full time as our Accountant and IT person in 1990. He was an excellent employee and junior member of our management team. He would usually ride on Monday through Thursday afternoons. He and I were “night workers”, thus we worked most evenings until 10:00 or 10:30. Chris, Teresa and I bonded over many a night working, talking, laughing and sharing stories.”
In addition, to the Chris Lillig C1 presented by River Product Company, C2, and World Cup professional races, there will be three full days of amateur races, product expo, local vendors, and activities for the entire family. Highlight activities include Doggy Cross, Grinch’s Kids Race and Wine Walk. Also, Friday Night Lights changes to Fright Night Frights to celebrate the October dates – costumes encouraged. Packed with fun, Jingle Cross is a must-attend event for any cycling fan.
Away from the race-course, Iowa City provides everything from boutique stores to craft breweries, museums, and farm-to-table restaurants. Also, the town prides itself on being bicycle-friendly with great riding and beautiful scenery.
Visit jinglecross.com for registration information and travel accommodations.