All those years of cycling paid off for Canada's Clara Hughes -- on the Olympic speed skating oval.

Using a finishing kick powered by years of world-class pedaling, Hughes passed Claudia Pechstein with two laps to go to win the gold medal in women's 5000m on Saturday, keeping the German from becoming the first Winter Olympian to win the same event four times.

"This whole time here I had to remind myself that I am a speedskater now," said Hughes, who won two bronze medals in cycling at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. "And I should not be afraid to be the best in the world."

Hughes trailed Pechstein for 10 of the 12½ laps, then charged ahead to finish in 6 minutes, 59.07 seconds. Hughes' teammate Cindy Klassen took the bronze for her fifth medal of the Games.

Pechstein's medal was the ninth of her career, making her the most decorated Olympic speed skater ever.

After Hughes crossed the finish, her mouth dropped in shock when she saw her time. Soon after, she laid out flat in the infield, panting heavily with her head buried in her hands.

When she got up, Klassen greeted her with a hug. Klassen applauded her teammate and handed over a Canadian flag that Hughes took on a victory lap, a look of disbelief still on her face.

Klassen, who skated poorly over her final two laps, finished with a time of 7:00.57. It was her sixth career medal (she earned 3000m bronze in 2002), making her Canada's most decorated Olympian, Summer and Winter Games combined.

Hughes moved up to second on that list; between cycling and speed skating, she has one gold, one silver and three bronze. She was third in this event in 2002 and was part of Canada's silver-winning squad in the team pursuit last week.

"I am so happy for Clara that she got a gold medal," Klassen said. "The 5000m is not my race and it is definitely her race."

The three medalists wore wide smiles on the podium, Hughes bouncing up and down in excitement, her gap-toothed smile delighting the fans. She donned her gold medal and immediately leaned over to hug Pechstein.

During the Canadian anthem, Hughes pulled Klassen to the top spot and they embraced while singing exuberantly. Pechstein looked at them and laughed.

Klassen happily waived to the crowd after the bronze was placed around her neck.

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