Rafal Majka secured victory in the overall mountains classification of the Tour de France on Thursday after finishing third in the 18th and final highland stage.

Rafal Majka celebrates his mountains classifcation triumph on Thursday evening. Photo: EPA/Kim Ludbrook

The 24-year-old has become the first ever Pole to win the the classification, taking home the distinctive polka dot jersey, and being named 'King of the Mountains' for 2014.

“It's a great surprise for me, after all this is the first time I've competed in the Tour de France,” Majka enthused in an interview with the TVN24 news station.

“Maybe I'll manage to return and win the race in the future,” he reflected.

Rafal Majka in action during Stage 18 of the Tour de France: Photo: EPA/Kim Ludbrook

There were six mountain stages in the event, and Majka managed to win two of them (14 and 17).

“I'm incredibly happy with my two wins, and I was also on the podium twice as one of the top three, and what's more in the mountain stages” he said.

“And in the end the polka jersey – now the jersey is mine.”

Italian Vincenzo Nibali won the 18th Stage, and with three stages left in the race, he is the favourite to win the general classification of the Tour de France, with the event ending on Sunday in Paris. (nh)