Portugal's Joao Pereira, right, won the men's elite race today ©Portuguese Olympic Committee

Portugal's Joao Pereira won the men's elite race by the finest of margins on day two of the European Triathlon Championships in Kitzbühel in Austria.

Pereira, who finished in fifth place at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, clinched the title after finishing just one second in front of France's Raphael Montoya.

The 29-year-old crossed the line in a time of 1 hour 45mins and 31secs.

Montoya, who placed second at last month's International Triathlon Union Madrid World Cup stage, finished agonisingly close to Pereira in 1:45:32.

João Silva came third on a good day for Portugal.

Silva, who came second at the inaugural European Games in Baku in 2015, rounded out the podium in a time of 1:45:35.

João Silva won the bronze medal on a good day for Portugal ©Getty Images
João Silva won the bronze medal on a good day for Portugal ©Getty Images

Spain's Javier Gomez claimed the elite men's title in 2016 but did not compete today.

The elite mixed relay race will be held in Kitzbühel tomorrow. 

It comes a week after the discipline was added to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games programme.

Kitzbühel is hosting the Championships for the second time, with Britain’s Alistair Brownlee and Switzerland’s Nicola Spirig winning the men's and women's races in 2014.