The controversy got the better of the Banque Populaire. After the eviction at the beginning of February of the navigator Clarisse Crémer due to her maternity, the banking group is renouncing to participate in the 2024 edition of the Vendée Globe.
"Banque Populaire considers today that the conditions are no longer met to be able to calmly approach the Vendée Globe and announces its withdrawal from the 2024 edition. Banque Populaire regrets the current situation and understands the emotion it has aroused among the public. “, indicates the group in its press release.
"Banque Populaire will actively pursue its involvement in work that advances the place of women in sport and in particular in ocean racing", continues the press release in which Banque Populaire "reaffirms its commitment to sailing".
�� Banque Populaire is withdrawing from the Vendée Globe 2024 and reaffirming its commitment to sailing. Read the press release: https://t.co/BpoFfLdHsF
On February 2, Clarisse Crémer, who gave birth to a daughter in November 2022, announced on her social networks that she would not, as planned, be at the helm of Banque Populaire for the next edition of the Vendée Globe, round the solo and non-stop world, nicknamed the Everest of the seas, which will set off from Les Sables-d'Olonne on November 10, 2024.
“The Vendée Globe rules for the 2024 edition impose competition on all skippers based on the number of miles covered in the race. On this criterion, of course, I fell behind the other competitors at the start, this maternity having prevented me from being present in the qualifying races for a year, "she explained.
"Today Banque Populaire decides that this represents a 'risk' for them that they ultimately do not want to run," continued Clarisse Crémer, who finished 12th and first woman in the last edition of the Vendée Globe.
To justify its decision, Banque Populaire had invoked the changes in the regulations of the event: skippers who do not have a new boat, as would have been the case of Clarisse Crémer, are obliged to participate in a certain number of races qualifying until departure and to accumulate the miles to decide between them, if the number of candidates exceeds forty.
Vendée Globe president Alain Leboeuf had criticized a "hasty" decision by Team Banque Populaire.
On social networks, many sportswomen had given their support to Clarisse Crémer, such as judoka Clarisse Agbégnénou, disc thrower Mélina Robert-Michon or navigator Camille Lecointre, while the Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, had explained that she exchanged with the organizers of the event, believing that "the chances of Clarisse (to participate, editor's note) are not extinguished".
