Faranak Partoazar, conquering Asia one gear at a time

Chatting with Faranak Partoazar, the multiple Iranian female MTB Champion, from he early days of Covid19

Battling against the current tensions and sanctions Iran’s Faranak Partoazar has her sights firmly set on a medal in the upcoming Asian Mountainbike Championships.

As the Asian Mountain Bike Championships approach (1st-5thFebruary in Thailand) we catch up with Iran’s top female cross-country mountain bike racer - 30-year old architectural student Faranak Partoazar. We hear about how she’s racing against all both expected convention and sanctions in her quest to lift the title of the continent’s top cross-country rider.

To start with we asked her how things really are on the ground in Iran.

“As you’ve witnessed in our region, as with Iraq and Afghanistan, war is a big fear for everyone – and what will happen next for our country is worrying. 

I’m not a sociologist so I can’t really say what has changed; there is a mix of behaviours, some are really angry at the US as to why they killed an Iranian, and as to why they are attacking Iran. I can also see that people are united; in November we had a big protest against our system, and now there is a unity because of events and there are even bigger protests and a lot of anger about what happened with the Ukrainian plane being shot down. 

Nobody wants war, or for the US to attack Iran; it’s a very strong thing with the people.”

The current tensions and the fears that go with them are really impacting everyone, including athletes.

“For people living in Iran there are lots insecurities, and people do not feel safe. The feeling that we are about to have war is somehow over for now; but the biggest fear is that we don’t know what will happen next.

As a professional athlete this is the worst thing; I cannot plan anything, I cannot count on anything; nothing is stable. It’s really impacting my career. It’s my job, and it’s like I’m losing my job.” 

The US enforced economic sanctions imposed have already had a devastating impact on Iran’s athletes, and they look set to worsen.

“It’s really cruel for normal people, and as a cyclist I cannot get the things that I need - either I cannot get them, or I have to buy them at really high prices compared to the past.

The economic issues we face make cycling much harder for everyone. I know from many of my friends who were trying to do this professionally (I say this, but its not really professional as we do not have that support level in Iran) or at a high international level; they’ve all quit because they cannot afford the expenses and cannot see any future because there is no plan or administration assurance in place for the sport in Iran.”

Getting hold of good equipment is now a real issue, which can also seriously restrict performance.

“Even if I want to get things like original brake pads I have to find a friend in Europe and ask them to bring them with them when we get chance to meet here or at races. This means that we are forced to use lower quality equipment, as we have no other option.

Thankfully this year the DT Swiss component brand has helped me. They know the situation and are helping with equipment. I really want to thank them for this.

Before things got so bad I had a sponsor in Iran. I had a small salary, and I could afford to buy a bike with that. Also I went on some overseas trips to race in 2016/7, I could do these things and support and pay this myself. 

Since I no longer have a sponsor, and as the sanctions have got worse, it’s not possible for me to buy a good bike any more. Even buying the parts is so had. 

To buy a good race level bike now would cost around 4 times a decent annual salary, and even a pair of good tyres now cost a month’s salary for most.”

It’s not just the cost factor that is a restricting issue; visas are a major headache.

“It gets harder every year to get visas to travel because the embassies react harder on Iranians.

The last time I applied for the Schengen visa they sent me a 100-page (or so) document, and it was also a lot of expense. Every day it gets harder to get visas, and I need to get guarantees from everywhere, it’s very complicated.

Even before the current situation (because of the pre-existing sanctions) the national cycling federation had faced financial struggles.

“We’re very squeezed, and are not as big a team as we should be heading to the Asian Championships. We have to take the minimum number of riders we can, and because of the finances we don’t have a lot of training camps or other things to prepare, as they can’t afford to spend on us like before.

But, for sure, we will race because this is important to the national federation and ministry of sport. 

Personally, for me it’s always a goal. There’s something I need to do and want to do – win the gold; and then, of course, go for the Asian Games also. I’m trying to work on getting there, and for sure it’s the only way for us to go to the Olympics, and so it really counts a lot.”

The lack of international completion needed to gain qualification points means that Tokyo 2020 is almost a sure-fire no go for Iranian mountain bikers.

“For the men it’s out reach. For the women, we were the second country in Asia hoping to get there. 

At the Asian Championship last year China were just ahead, and so they made it into the world top 20 ranking and got into the Games. We were there with a number of countries fighting for 21st and the last spot. For me, I don’t have it – and so I’m focussing on 2024.”