KUALA LUMPUR, March 1, 2010 (AFP) – Australian Michael Matthews of team Jayco won the first stage of the Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia Monday with Spaniard Vidal Cellis from the Footon-Servetto team taking second place.

Matthews, the overall race leader, won the 174.5-kilometer (about 110-mile) stage from Kota Bharu to Kuala Berang in 4 hours, 22 minutes and 53 seconds.

The seven-stage race began in Kota Bharu, capital of the northern state of Kelantan, and now heads to the southern tip of Terengganu state before proceeding to eastern Pahang state.

When the race ends at Kuala Lumpur’s Independence Square on March 7, the 20 teams taking part will have covered 1,013.7 kilometres and six states.

Top 10 places in Stage 1:
1. Michael Matthews (AUS/Team Jayco) 4hr 22min 53sec,
2. Vidal Celis (ESP/Footon-Servetto) s.t.,
3. Ruslan Tleubayev (KAZ/Kazakhstan National Team) s.t.,
4. Anuar Manan(MAS/Geumsan Ginseng Asia) s.t.,
5. Johann Rabie (RSA/South Africa National Team) s.t.,
6. René Haselbacher (AUT/Vorarlberg-Corratec) s.t.,
7. Markus Eibegger (AUT/Footon-Servetto) s.t.,
8. Tobias Erler(GER/Tabriz Petrochemical Cycling) s.t.,
9. Zach Bell (CAN/Kelly Benefit Strategies) s.t.,
10. Salleh Zamri (MAS/ Malaysia National Team) s.t.

Top 10 places overall:
1. Michael Matthews (AUS/Team Jayco) 4hr 22min 43sec,
2. Vidal Celis (ESP/Footon-Servetto) 4hr 22min 47sec,
3. Anuar Manan (MAS/Geumsan Ginseng Asia) s.t.,
4. Ruslan Tleubayev (KAZ/Kazakhstan National Team) 4hr 22min 49sec,
5. Peter McDonald (AUS/Drapac Porsche Cycling) 4hr 22min 50sec,
6. Zainal Rizuan (MAS/Malaysia National Team) 4hr 22min 51sec,
7. Bualoi Okart (THA/Thailand National Team) 4hr 22min 52sec,
8. Ruslan Pydgornyy (UKR/ISD) s.t.,
9. Johann Rabie (RSA/South Africa National Team) 4hr 22min 53sec,
10. René Haselbacher (AUT/Vorarlberg-Corratec) 4hr 22min 53sec