The 2020–21 FIS Cross-Country World Cup was the 40th official

World Cup A world cup is a global sporting competition in which the participant entities – usually international teams or individuals representing their countries – compete for the title of world champion. The event most associated with the name is ...

season in

cross-country skiing Cross-country skiing is a form of skiing whereby skiers traverse snow-covered terrain without use of ski lifts or other assistance. Cross-country skiing is widely practiced as a sport and recreational activity; however, some still use it as a m ...

for men and women. The season began with the Nordic Opening stage event on 27–29 November 2020 in

Ruka Ruka may refer to: People Given name *, Japanese actress *, Japanese football player *, Japanese snowboarder * (稲場るか, born 2000), Japanese AV actress * (佳苗るか, born 1993), Japanese screenwriter and former AV actress *, Japanese profe ...

, Finland and was planned to conclude with the World Cup Finals on 19–21 March 2021 in

Beijing Beijing, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's List of national capitals by population, most populous national capital city as well as ...

, China. However, due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

, FIS announced on 4 December 2020 that all events in China, including the Cross-Country World Cup final were cancelled. World Cup Finals were moved to Lillehammer, where December competitions couldn't be arranged. However, on 12 February 2021, all the events scheduled in

Oslo Oslo ( or ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of 1,064,235 in 2022 ...

and

Lillehammer Lillehammer () is a municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. Some of the more notable villages in the munici ...

were cancelled due to ongoing pandemic. The World Cup Final stage event was called off this year and the season ended on 13–14 March in

Engadin The Engadin or Engadine (;This is the name in the two Romansh idioms that are spoken in the Engadin, Vallader and Puter, as well as in Sursilvan and Rumantsch Grischun. In Surmiran, the name is ''Nagiadegna'', and in Sutsilvan, it is ''Gidegna'' ...

, Switzerland, where the final pursuit races made a replacement for cancelled 30/50 kilometers annual competition in Oslo. The pandemic also reduced participation, after the opening in Ruka the Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish teams announced that they would not compete in Davos and Dresden as they felt that they could not guarantee a safe environment. Later, Norway announced they would also not participate in

Tour de Ski The Tour de Ski (TdS) is a cross-country skiing event held annually since the 2006–07 season in Central Europe. The Tour de Ski is a Stage World Cup event in the FIS Cross-Country World Cup. Each Tour de Ski has consisted of six to nine stages ...

Calendar

Men

Women

Men's standings

Overall

Distance

Sprint

Prize money

U23

Bonus Ranking

Women's standings

Overall

Distance

Sprint

Prize money

U23

Bonus Ranking

Nations Cup

Overall

Men

Women

Points distribution

The table shows the number of points won in the 2020/21 Cross-Country Skiing World Cup for men and women. Team Sprint and Relay used to count only for Nations Cup but from this season they were also included in individual standings.

Achievements

Only individual events. ;First World Cup career victory: ;Men *

Erik Valnes Erik Valnes (born 19 April 1996) is a Norwegian cross-country skier. At the 2018 Junior World Championships (U23) he won the gold medal in the sprint, and also competed in the 15 km event. He made his World Cup debut in December 2017 in ...

, 24, in his 4th season – the WC 1 (Sprint C) in Ruka; first podium was 2018–19 WC 8 (Sprint F) in Dresden *

Oskar Svensson Oskar Svensson (born 7 September 1995) is a Swedish cross-country skier who represents Falun-Borlänge SK. He competed at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2017 in Lahti, Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nor ...

, 25, in his 8th season – the WC 5 (Sprint C) in Val di Fiemme; also first podium *

Denis Spitsov Denis Sergeyevich Spitsov (; born 16 August 1996) is a Russian cross-country skier who competes internationally. Spitsov debuted in the World Cup in Davos, Switzerland, on 9 December 2017. He participated at the 2018 Winter Olympics, where he ...

, 24, in his 4th season – the WC 5 (10 km Mass Start F) in Val di Fiemme; first podium was 2017–18 WC 8 (9 km Pursuit F) in Val di Fiemme ;Women *

Rosie Brennan Rosie Brennan (born December 2, 1988) is an American cross-country skier. On 13 December 2020, she became the second American cross-country skier to win back-to-back World Cup races, after Kikkan Randall in 2011. She has represented the Unite ...

, 31, in her 10th season – the WC 2 (Sprint F) in Davos; first podium was 2020–21 WC 1 (10 km Pursuit F) in Ruka * Nadine Fähndrich, 25, in her 6th season – the WC 4 (Sprint F) in Dresden; first podium was 2018–19 WC 14 (10 km C) in Cogne * Ebba Andersson, 23, in her 5th season – the WC 5 (10 km Mass Start F) in Val di Fiemme; first podium was 2018–19 WC 2 (10 km C) in Ruka * Maja Dahlqvist, 26, in her 7th season – the WC 10 (Sprint F) in Ulricehamn; first podium was 2017–18 WC 9 (Sprint F) in Dresden ;First World Cup podium: ;Men *

Aleksey Chervotkin Aleksey Aleksandrovich Chervotkin (; born 30 April 1995) is a Russian cross-country skier who competes internationally with the Russian national team. He competed at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2017 in Lahti, Finland, in men's 4 × ...

, 25, in his 7th season – no. 2 in the WC 1 (15 km C) in Ruka *

Artem Maltsev Artem Igorevich Maltsev (; born 24 May 1993) is a Russian cross-country skier. Cross-country skiing results All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS). Olympic Games Distance reduced to 30 km due to weather condi ...

, 27, in his 5th season – no. 3 in the WC 3 (15 km F) in Davos *

, 25, in his 8th season – no. 1 in the WC 5 (Sprint C) in Val di Fiemme *

Jens Burman Jens Burman (born 16 August 1994) is a Swedish Cross-country skiing (sport), cross-country skier who competes internationally. He competed for Sweden at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2017 in Lahti, Finland. Cross-country skiing results ...

, 26, in his 7th season – no. 3 in the WC 12 (50 km Pursuit F) in Engadin ;Women *

Helene Marie Fossesholm Helene Marie Fossesholm (born 31 May 2001) is a Norwegian cross-country skier who competes for Eiker Skiklubb. She has won a total of three gold medals at the FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships, and won her first podium in the World Cup, ...

, 19, in her 2nd season – no. 2 in the WC 1 (10 km Pursuit F) in Ruka *

, 31, in her 10th season – no. 3 in the WC 1 (10 km Pursuit F) in Ruka *

Tatiana Sorina Tatiana Andreyevna Sorina (, née ''Alyoshina''; born 13 April 1994) is a Russian cross-country skier. Personal life Sorina is married to Egor Sorin, coach of the Russian ski team. On 11 March 2020, she gave birth to a daughter. During maternity ...

, 26, in her 4th season – no. 2 in the WC 1 (11th Nordic Opening overall) in Ruka *

Hailey Swirbul Hailey Swirbul (born July 10, 1998) is an American, former cross-country skier. On December 13, 2020, she clinched her first podium in the FIS Cross-Country World Cup by finishing third in the 10 km freestyle race in Davos, Switzerland. ...

, 22, in her 3rd season – no. 3 in the WC 3 (10 km F) in Davos *

Emma Ribom Emma Sofia Ribom (born 29 November 1997) is a Swedish cross-country skier. She won Ungdomsvasan in February 2013. Cross-country skiing results All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS). Olympic Games World Champ ...

, 23, in her 3rd season – no. 3 in the WC 5 (Sprint C) in Val di Fiemme *

Delphine Claudel Delphine Claudel (born 23 March 1996) is a French cross-country skier. She competed in the women's 10 kilometre freestyle at the 2018 Winter Olympics. She competed at the 2022 Winter Olympics The 2022 Winter Olympics, officially called t ...

, 24, in her 5th season – no. 3 in the WC 5 (10 km Mass Start F) in Val di Fiemme ;Victories in this World Cup (all-time number of victories in parentheses): ;Men *

Alexander Bolshunov Alexander Alexandrovich Bolshunov (, also '' tr.'' Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Bolshunov; born 31 December 1996) is a Russian cross-country skier and two-time winner of the 14th and 15th Tour de Ski. Bolshunov is a nine-time Olympic medalist, t ...

, 10 (27) first places *

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (born 22 October 1996) is a Norwegian cross-country skier who represents Byåsen IL. He holds multiple records, most notably for being the youngest male in history to win the FIS Cross-Country World Cup, the Tour de S ...

, 3 (40) first places *

Federico Pellegrino Federico Pellegrino (born 1 September 1990) is an Italian cross-country skier. Pellegrino is a world champion and Olympic silver medalist in cross-country skiing. In the 2015/2016 season, he won the sprint World Cup. Pellegrino is an athlete of ...

, 3 (16) first places *

, 2 (2) first places *

Emil Iversen Emil Iversen (born 12 August 1991) is a Norwegian cross-country skier who represents IL Varden. He is 2019 World Champion in team sprint and 4 × 10 km relay. Athletic career ;2010/11 Iversen was junior world champion in the relay in 2011 ...

, 1 (8) first place *

Simen Hegstad Krüger Simen Hegstad Krüger (born 13 March 1993) is a Norwegian cross-country skier who competes in the FIS Cross-Country World Cup. He represents the club Lyn. He won the gold medal in the 2018 Olympics Skiathlon event, leading a medal sweep by t ...

, 1 (4) first place *

Hans Christer Holund Hans Christer Holund (born 25 February 1989) is a Norwegian cross-country skier who represents Lyn. Holund won the 10 km classical at Junior World Championships in 2008, and debuted in the FIS Cross-Country World Cup in Lahti on 8 March 20 ...

, 1 (2) first place *

, 1 (1) first place *

, 1 (1) first place ;Women * Linn Svahn, 6 (9) first places *

Therese Johaug Therese Johaug (born 25 June 1988) is a Norwegian former cross-country skier from the village of Dalsbygda in Os Municipality. In World Ski Championships she won ten individual gold medals along with four gold medals in relays, and she is a ...

, 4 (77) first places *

Jessie Diggins Jessica Diggins (born August 26, 1991) is an American Cross-country skiing (sport), cross-country skier. She is the most accomplished cross-country skier from the United States in the sport's history having won three World Cup overall titles, th ...

, 4 (10) first places * Yuliya Stupak, 2 (3) first places *

, 2 (2) first places *

Heidi Weng Heidi Weng (born 20 July 1991) is a Norwegian cross-country skier and fell runner. Career In cross-country skiing her best individual World Cup finish is her victories in Tour de Ski both 2016–17 and 2017–18. She has won three gold medals ...

, 1 (12) first place *

Natalya Nepryayeva Natalya Mikhaylovna Terentyeva (, née Nepryaeva, born 6 September 1995) is a Russian cross-country skier. She participated in the 2018 Winter Olympics as part of the Olympic Athletes from Russia team and 2022 Winter Olympics as part of the Rus ...

, 1 (3) first place * Nadine Fähndrich, 1 (1) first place * Ebba Andersson, 1 (1) first place * Maja Dahlqvist, 1 (1) first place

Retirements

;Men * Livio Bieler *

Niklas Dyrhaug Niklas Dyrhaug (born 6 July 1987) is a Norwegian, former cross-country skier. He competed in the World Cup for ten years. He represented Norway at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2015 in Falun winning a gold medal in the 4 × 10 km ...

Sebastian Eisenlauer Sebastian Eisenlauer (born 13 March 1990) is a retired German cross-country skier. Eisenlauer competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics for Germany. He placed 35th in the qualifying round in the sprint, failing to advance to the knockout stages. A ...

Simeon Hamilton Simeon "Simi" Hamilton (born May 14, 1987) is an American, former cross-country skier, who competed between 2000 and 2021. Hamilton attended Middlebury College from 2005 to 2009, during which time he competed for its ski team, individually earni ...

Martin Johnsrud Sundby Martin Johnsrud Sundby (born 26 September 1984) is a former Norwegian cross-country skier who competed between 2003 and 2021. He is a two time Olympic champion at the 2018 Winter Olympics in the team sprint and relay and was also a silver and bro ...

* Viktor Thorn * Stefan Zelger ;Women * Sadie Maubet Bjornsen * Mari Eide *

Anouk Faivre-Picon Anouk Faivre-Picon (born 18 February 1986) is a French cross-country skier. She competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi Sochi ( rus, Сочи, p=ˈsotɕɪ, a=Ru-Сочи.ogg, from – ''seaside'') is the largest Resort town, ...

* Hanna Falk * Sophie Caldwell Hamilton *

Laura Mononen Laura Katariina Mononen ( Ahervo, born 5 October 1984) is a retired Finnish cross-country skier. Career Mononen made her debut in the World Cup in the 2008–09 season in March in Lahti, Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Fin ...

* Susanna Saapunki * Anna Zherebyateva

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2020-21 FIS Cross-Country World Cup FIS Cross-Country World Cup seasons