The Italian, who has won the overall European title on five occasions to date, produced a strong performance in the women’s 1,500 metres event at the Palavela.

Fontana finished in a time of 2min 25.426sec to take the victory, ending three seconds clear of the runner-up Sofia Prosvirnova of Russia.

The podium would be complete by another Italian skater, with Lucia Peretti finishing in a time of 2:28.599 to earn a bronze medal in the competition.

Victory in the women’s 500m event would be claimed by the Netherlands’ Rianne de Vries, as the 26-year-old ended the sprint race in 43.681 seconds.

Italy’s Martina Valcepina and Britain’s Charlotte Gilmartin earned the minor medals, with the pair pushing Fontana into fourth place.

The women’s classification is led by the Italian after two events as home favourite has 42 points to her credit, while de Vries is second on 36.

Semen Elistratov is the men’s leader as the Russian seeks to defend the title he claimed last year in Sochi, ending the day with a tally of 39 points.

The majority were gained as a result of his victory in the 1,500m, ending the race in a winning time of 2:19.248.

Hungary’s Liu Shaoang and Israel’s Vladislav Bykanov would round off the podium by finishing in 2:19.619 and 2:20.822 respectively.

Elistratov’s nearest challenger overnight in the overall classification is the Dutchman Sjinkie Knegt, winner of today’s 500m.

He would triumph in the big final by clocking a time of 40.951, with his compatriot Dylan Hoogerwerf ending as the runner-up in 41.191.

Russia’s Victor An would secure a bronze medal in the discipline, as he clocked a time of 41.156.

Knegt lies just three points behind Elistratov in the overall standings, with the battle set to resume tomorrow when the Championships will draw to a conclusion.