title: 1996 Tour de Langkawi
text: # 1996 Tour de Langkawi
  
  The 1996 Tour de Langkawi was the first edition of the Tour de Langkawi, a cycling stage race that took place in Malaysia. It officially began on 29 February in Langkawi and ended on 10 March in Langkawi. The race was sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) as a 2.5 category race.
  
  Australian rider, Damian McDonald emerged as the first winner of the race. Chris Newton of Great Britain was second and another Australian, Brett Dennis third. McDonald was also the first winner of points classification and mountains classification of the race. Giant-AIS won the team classification of the race.
  
  ## Stages
  
  The race comprised 11 stages, covering 1,294.8 kilometres.
  
  | Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Stage winner |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | 29 February | Langkawi Criterium | 70.8 km (44.0 mi) | Jay Sweet (AUS) |
  | 2 | 1 March | Langkawi Team time trial | 40 km (24.9 mi) | Great Britain  Matt Illingworth (GBR)  John Tanner (GBR)  Rob Hayles (GBR)  Bryan Steel (GBR)  Chris Newton (GBR) |
  | 3 | 2 March | Kangar to George Town | 186 km (115.6 mi) | Glen Mitchell (NZL) |
  | 4 | 3 March | George Town to Ipoh | 173 km (107.5 mi) | Josef Christen (SUI) |
  | 5 | 4 March | Tanjung Malim to Genting Highlands | 63 km (39.1 mi) | Damian McDonald (AUS) |
  | 6 | 5 March | Kuala Lumpur to Malacca | 167 km (103.8 mi) | Patrick Vetsch (SUI) |
  | 7 | 6 March | Muar to Johor Bahru | 172 km (106.9 mi) | Rob Hayles (GBR) |
  | 8 | 7 March | Mersing to Kuantan | 203 km (126.1 mi) | Patrick Vetsch (SUI) |
  | 9 | 8 March | Kuantan to Kuala Terengganu | 113 km (70.2 mi) | Richie McCauley (IRL) |
  | 10 | 9 March | Kuala Terengganu to Kota Bharu | 107 km (66.5 mi) | Jay Sweet (AUS) |
  | 11 | 10 March | Langkawi Criterium | 67 km (41.6 mi) | Marc Jacobsen (DEN) |
  
  ## Final standings
  
  ### General classification
  
  | | Rider | Time |
  | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Damian McDonald (AUS) | 34h 21' 22" |
  | 2 | Chris Newton (GBR) | + 09" |
  | 3 | Brett Dennis (AUS) | + 12" |
  | 4 | Matthew White (AUS) | + 53" |
  | 5 | Douglas Ryder (RSA) | + 01' 02" |
  | 6 | Marcel Gono (AUS) | + 01' 03" |
  | 7 | Ján Valach (SVK) | + 01' 11" |
  | 8 | Brenden Hart (NZL) | + 01' 16" |
  | 9 | Kelvin Martin (AUS) | + 01' 21" |
  | 10 | Mark Rendell (NZL) | + 01' 23" |
  | 11 | Josef Christen (SUI) | n/a |
  | 12 | David George (RSA) | n/a |
  | 13 | Morten Sonne (DEN) | n/a |
  | 14 | Ralf Grabsch (GER) | n/a |
  | 15 | Alan Volhuter (RSA) | n/a |
  