Germany’s Claudia Pechstein claimed the women’s 5,000m title in a track record time on the final day of the ISU Speed Skating World Cup in Stavanger ©Getty Images

Germany’s Claudia Pechstein claimed the women’s 5,000 metres title in a track record time on the final day of the International Skating Union Speed Skating World Cup in Stavanger.

The 45-year-old triumphed in 6 min 56.60sec at the Norwegian city’s Soermarka Arena.

Canada’s Ivanie Blondin took the silver medal in 6:57.34, while Czech Republic’s Martina Sáblíková clinched the bronze in 6:59.95.

Pechstein’s previous World Cup victory came in South Korea’s capital Seoul in November 2014.

"I’m still very happy," she said.

"I’m happy with every time I won because it’s unbelievable to be on top at my age.

"Some of the other athletes could be my daughters.

"It’s good to still be up there.

"I’m really proud of myself."

Blondin’s silver medal placed her on top of the combined 3,000m and 5,000m World Cup rankings with 150 points.

The Netherlands' Sven Kramer won the first and only men's 10,000m race of the season before the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games ©ISU
The Netherlands' Sven Kramer won the first and only men's 10,000m race of the season before the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games ©ISU

In the first and only men’s 10,000m race of the season before the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, The Netherlands’ Sven Kramer came out on top in a track record time of 12:50.97.

World record holder Ted-Jan Bloemen of Canada had to settle for the silver medal in 12:52.64.

Dutchman Erik-Jan Kooiman grabbed the bronze medal in 12:57.13.

Today’s action also saw Canada take a second successive World Cup victory in the men’s team sprint.

Gilmore Junio, Alex Boisvert-Lacroix and Vincent de Haître stopped the clock in a world record time of 1:19.52.

Canada started with a different line-up to that at the first leg of the World Cup in Dutch town Heerenveen, where Laurent Dubreuil, Alexandre St-Jean and De Haître took the honours.

Norway secured the silver medal with Bjørn Magnussen, Henrik Fagerli Rukke and Håvard Lorentzen in 1:19.84.

The United States’ Mitchell Whitmore, Jonathan Garcia and Joey Mantia claimed the bronze in 1:20.58.

In the women’s team sprint, South Korea’s Kim Min Sun, Kim Hyun-yung and Park Seung-hi topped the podium in 1:28.09.

Norway took the silver medal in 1:28.48 with Anne Gulbrandsen, Hege Bøkko and Ida Njåtun.

The bronze medal went to Canada’s Marsha Hudey, Kaylin Irvine and Kali Christ in 1:28.85.