”King of PC Loop” with Ryan Welch

If you ask Ryan’s oldest son, Oliver, what he is doing at any given time, he is probably racing toy cars yelling out “I am speed!” The apple must not fall very far from the tree there, as Ryan is usually doing the exact same thing- just trade the toy car for a bike! 

Affectionately called “the golden boy” by his family, Ryan is the epitome of kindness, joy, and positivity. He grew up in Salt Lake City and went to Olympus High School. After graduating he served a mission in Bolivia where he developed a healthy fear of needles and a deep love of Spanish music. He obtained his Bachelors Degree and Masters of Accounting from the University of Utah. During college he traveled all over the place, searching every corner of the world looking for something high to jump off of, a mountain to scale the side of, or giant party to attend. He is a CPA, and now works as a financial analyst at Lucid Software. 

He met his wife Ellen after seeing a picture of her online and insisting that her roommate set them up, despite the fact that she had a boyfriend at the time. Not long after that they were married in a small wedding ceremony in Paris. They have two boys, Oliver and Tommy, who absolutely adore Ryan. He is a die hard Utah Football fan, despite being married to a die hard BYU football fan. The perfect way to describe him is like a golden retriever- full of energy, a friend to every person he meets, easy to please, and always happy. 

Ryan has never met a canyon he didn’t want to climb, a mountain he didn’t want to ski, a truck he didn’t want to take off roading, or a race he didn’t want to win. 

After being introduced to cycling in college, he quickly developed a healthy obsession. His highly competitive nature mixed with his grit and determination have given him an impressive start to what will surely be a lifelong career in cycling. He was introduced to Mi Duole early in his cycling journey, and has found a community he absolutely loves being a part of! He’s been involved in many races, including 3 Lotojas. Most recently, he pulled off an insane Lotoja win, despite spending his entire summer training with a newborn at home. 

Most early mornings you can find Ryan in the saddle, climbing mountains and putting in the work, and still always being home in time to whip up his famous French Toast.