TDF's top climber crowned

Col Du Tourmalet - Anthony Charteau was rewarded for his consistent racing on the Tour de France climbing stages with the polka dot jersey for the race's best climber on Thursday.

Charteau, who races for the Bbox-Bouygues team, went into the final climbing stage of this year's race, a 174km ride from Pau to the Col du Tourmalet, with a 15-point lead on fellow Frenchman Christophe Moreau.

With four climbs featuring on stage 17, and plenty of points to pick up, it was Moreau's last chance for glory on what is his final Tour de France.

However, the Caisse d'Epargne team veteran's chances were hampered by an early breakaway that forged ahead to gobble up the points available on the race's first three climbs.

Moreau would have had to finish seventh on the stage, and ahead of Charteau, to claim the 16 points at the finish line that would allow him to snatch the polka dot jersey on the final day in the mountains.

But early on the 18.6km ascent to the Col du Tourmalet, which has staged only one finish on the race, Moreau was one of several riders quickly dropped as the pace of the leaders' teams picked up.

He eventually finished 22nd at 4min 36sec behind stage winner Andy Schleck, who came over the finish line with race leader Alberto Contador having failed to close his eight-second deficit to the Spaniard.

Charteau admitted he was soaking up his eventual win well before the summit.

"I knew when Christophe began to struggle early on the climb (to Tourmalet) that my victory was virtually assured," said Charteau, who finished the stage in 27th over a minute behind Moreau.

"That allowed me to just ride up to the summit savouring my win. It was quite an experience, with all the fans at the roadside.

"I deliberately rode the final few kilometres by myself so I could take it all in. It was extraordinary.

"When I came round the final bend, the fans waiting there did a big 'Ola' for me. That's something you don't get a lot when you're racing."

Charteau's feat is another huge boost for Jean-Rene Bernaudeau's Bbox-Bouygues team as they continue their search for a new sponsor.

Earlier this week French champion Thomas Voeckler and Pierrick Fedrigo boosted that campaign by winning a stage each in the Pyrenees.