By Kathleen Nelson

Last time we saw native son Dan Schmatz, his arm was in a sling and his smile was forced. He had returned to the area to compete in the inaugural Tour of Missouri with Team BMC but came out on the wrong end of a collision with an armadillo in the second stage.

With that, Schmatz’s race and pro career were over. A 1992 graduate of Parkway West, Schmatz hoped for a happy sendoff, perhaps a victory in the final stage in St. Louis. Instead, he endured endless retellings of the ignoble accident, to the stifled giggles of the crowd.

Since then, Schmatz has returned to his second home in Colorado but has a renewed sense of purpose, thanks to his local connections. Schmatz has started a new career in real estate management and is passing on his racing expertise as director of the THF Realty Cycling Team.

Schmatz’s original plan was to retire from cycling and devote himself solely to THF as a property manager in the Denver area. THF and founder Michael Staenberg have served as sponsors in Schmatz’s career, with the 7UP, Health Net and Kodak Gallery teams.

Staenberg also has supported cycling locally. He was one of the driving forces behind the refurbishing of the Penrose Park Velodrome, donates bicycles to the Variety Club’s Bikes for Kids program and is a sponsor for bike teams from Big Shark and Mesa Cycles.

Schmatz said he had lots of time to think on the one-armed drive from St. Louis to Colorado after the Tour of Missouri and realized there was a need for an amateur team.

“There are a few pro teams where guys get paid well but a lot of teams where guys don’t get paid much to ride,” Schmatz said. “We decided to put the money in an amateur team, sort of like an undergraduate program, to give riders a chance to develop, then move to the bigger pro teams.”

His biggest problem was timing. By late September, most teams had signed riders for the coming year. Schmatz’s first call was to Staenberg, who signed on immediately.

“I heard the idea and thought it was great,” Staenberg said. “I wish there was more to the story, but there isn’t. I was sold right away.”

Schmatz also mentioned the team in passing to Tim Kakouris of Ghisallo Sports in Chesterfield. The store sells all manner of bikes and has carved out a niche with triathletes but wanted to broaden its appeal.

“He didn’t come to me for help,” Kakouris said. “But I saw an opportunity. We didn’t want to be pigeon-holed and saw this as a way to remind people that we sell road bikes and mountain bikes. Here’s a guy who does things big, and so does THF. It was a good time to dip our toe in a bigger ocean and show people we do more than triathlon bikes.”

Thus, Ghisallo will supply Orbea bike frames and team clothing, an investment of about $22,000.

Money, equipment: What’s missing? Oh, yeah. Riders.

Schmatz quickly gathered seven amateurs and three former pros, including Brian Dziewa of Farmington. Dziewa, pronounced ja-va, like the coffee, rode for Team Jelly Belly in the Tour of Missouri.

“He’s from Missouri, so he’s got a place in my heart,” Schmatz said. “He kind of got left out at contract time this year, but he has the drive and desire to make the sacrifice. He has the skill set and the talent but not the experience. I want to give him everything he needs to compete.”

Dziewa and the rest of the THF team will ride together in 10 to 15 races on the National Racing Calendar, events that attract a mix of amateur and pro teams.

With the major pieces in place, Schmatz focused on the birth Dec. 19 of his son, Samuel. He also returned to the bike for a few multi-hour rides, just to shake off the rust. He felt pretty good but said he would compete on the team “only if I can be an asset. My main focus is management and taking care of the guys.”

St. Louis might have lost a professional bike rider, but it has gained influence on the sport’s future.