Sailing: skipper Kevin Escoffier will not be at the start of the Vendée Globe

The decision is made for Kevin Escoffier’s sponsor, Holcim-Lafarge. According to Le Canard enchaîné, the skipper from Saint-Malo will not be at the start of the Vendée Globe 2024, a solo race in which he was the big favorite. In question, complaints of inappropriate behavior, subject to a preliminary investigation by the Paris prosecutor’s office, and the French sailing federation.

Belonging to a group indicted for having financed Daesh does not prevent having principles: the cement manufacturer Holcim-Lafarge, sponsor of skipper Kevin Escoffier, landed him after accusations of sexual assault. #MeToo

➡️La suite, from 9 p.m. on https://t.co/Tpwe6OBCXa

— The Chained Duck (@canardenchaine) August 15, 2023

“An incident”, in Escoffier’s own words, first with a young woman during a stopover of the Ocean Race, on May 15th. Since then, three other women have testified anonymously in the Canard Enchaîné. The deadlines of civil justice do not allow to know the outcome of the investigation before October 3, the deadline for entries in the Vendée Globe.

Benjamin Schwartz and Nicolas Lunven expected to replace him

Anyway, also explain our colleagues from L’Équipe, the Swiss cement manufacturer Holcim, sponsor of Kevin Escoffier, had taken care not to appear with the skipper since these revelations. And to remain silent during the investigation.

In an interview at West France, last June, the skipper revealed that he had withdrawn himself from the post with his sponsor: “It was a decision that I made myself. My sponsor didn’t push me to do it. When I decided, there was still no procedure initiated. »

Two names would circulate to replace him: Benjamin Schwartz, who had replaced Kevin Escoffier in June, and Nicolas Lunven. The sponsor Holcim must decide quickly, before October 3, the date of registration, just before the qualifying races. The start of the Vendée Globe will be given on November 10 in Les Sables-d’Olonne.