Rui Oliveira claimed a home gold in the elimination race ©Getty Images

Home star Rui Oliveira and Great Britain's Emily Nelson each claimed elimination titles on the opening day of the European Track Junior and Under-23 Championships in Anadia in Portugal today.

It came on an action-packed opening day of competition at the Sangalhos Velodrome.

Nelson, a madison silver medal winner at this year's World Championships in Hong Kong, claimed the first gold medal of the day after recovering from a crash earlier in the competition.

She fended off competition from Lithuania's Olivija Baleisyte as Ziortza Isasi of Spain took bronze.

Oliveira then followed suit in the corresponding men's event to the delight of the home crowd.

He finished in front of Poland's Damian Slawek.

Maksim Piskunov of Russia claimed the final place on the podium.

Poland went one better in the women's individual pursuit as Justyn Kaczkowska triumphed in 3min 32.684sec.

Britain's Eleanor Dickinson finished in second place in 3:34.948 while Francesco Pattaro won the third place race in 3:35.417.

Britain's day soon got even better as Mark Stewart won the corresponding men's event in 4:18.843.

Ivo Oliveira, the twin brother of Rui, took silver in 4:23.22.

Bronze went to Poland's Daniel Staniszewski after he overtook opponent Stefan Bissegger of Switzerland.

In total, 383 athletes representing 25 countries are registered for the competition that is scheduled to finish on Sunday (July 23).