Missouri native Dan Schmatz to lead THF Realty Amateur Team

Facing retirement can be a frightening prospect for a professional cyclist - but not for BMC rider Dan Schmatz.

The 33-year-old St. Louis native turned Coloradan is approaching the end of his six-year road-racing career. But for Schmatz, it's just a new beginning. The coming months will bring him and his wife, Myriam, their firstborn child, as well as a new role - managing an amateur team for 2008. . . .

The idea for the new team came to him while driving home from the Tour of Missouri - a race where he infamously broke his collarbone following a collision with an armadillo. With his wife pregnant, Schmatz recognized that he could no longer be away from home for long stretches. So Schmatz, who works part time as a property manager for St. Louis-based THF Realty, pitched the team-sponsorship idea to THF owner Michael Staenberg.