2020–21 FIS Cross-Country World Cup

The 2020–21 FIS Cross-Country World Cup was the 40th official World Cup season in cross-country skiing for men and women.

The season began with the Nordic Opening stage event on 27–29 November 2020 in Ruka, Finland and was planned to conclude with the World Cup Finals on 19–21 March 2021 in Beijing, China. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 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 and Lillehammer 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, 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.

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, 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, 25, in his 8th season – the WC 5 (Sprint C) in Val di Fiemme; also first podium
 * 🇷🇺 Denis Spitsov, 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, 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, 25, in his 7th season – no. 2 in the WC 1 (15 km C) in Ruka
 * 🇷🇺 Artem Maltsev, 27, in his 5th season – no. 3 in the WC 3 (15 km F) in Davos
 * 🇸🇪 Oskar Svensson, 25, in his 8th season – no. 1 in the WC 5 (Sprint C) in Val di Fiemme
 * 🇸🇪 Jens Burman, 26, in his 7th season – no. 3 in the WC 12 (50 km Pursuit F) in Engadin


 * Women
 * 🇳🇴 Helene Marie Fossesholm, 19, in her 2nd season – no. 2 in the WC 1 (10 km Pursuit F) in Ruka
 * 🇺🇸 Rosie Brennan, 31, in her 10th season – no. 3 in the WC 1 (10 km Pursuit F) in Ruka
 * 🇷🇺 Tatiana Sorina, 26, in her 4th season – no. 2 in the WC 1 (11th Nordic Opening overall) in Ruka
 * 🇺🇸 Hailey Swirbul, 22, in her 3rd season – no. 3 in the WC 3 (10 km F) in Davos
 * 🇸🇪 Emma Ribom, 23, in her 3rd season – no. 3 in the WC 5 (Sprint C) in Val di Fiemme
 * 🇫🇷 Delphine Claudel, 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, 10 (27) first places
 * 🇳🇴 Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, 3 (40) first places
 * 🇮🇹 Federico Pellegrino, 3 (16) first places
 * 🇸🇪 Oskar Svensson, 2 (2) first places
 * 🇳🇴 Emil Iversen, 1 (8) first place
 * 🇳🇴 Simen Hegstad Krüger, 1 (4) first place
 * 🇳🇴 Hans Christer Holund, 1 (2) first place
 * 🇳🇴 Erik Valnes, 1 (1) first place
 * 🇷🇺 Denis Spitsov, 1 (1) first place


 * Women
 * 🇸🇪 Linn Svahn, 6 (9) first places
 * 🇳🇴 Therese Johaug, 4 (77) first places
 * 🇺🇸 Jessie Diggins, 4 (10) first places
 * 🇷🇺 Yuliya Stupak, 2 (3) first places
 * 🇺🇸 Rosie Brennan, 2 (2) first places
 * 🇳🇴 Heidi Weng, 1 (12) first place
 * 🇷🇺 Natalya Nepryayeva, 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
 * 🇩🇪 Sebastian Eisenlauer
 * 🇺🇸 Simeon Hamilton
 * 🇳🇴 Martin Johnsrud Sundby
 * 🇸🇪 Viktor Thorn
 * 🇮🇹 Stefan Zelger


 * Women
 * 🇺🇸 Sadie Maubet Bjornsen
 * 🇳🇴 Mari Eide
 * 🇫🇷 Anouk Faivre-Picon
 * 🇸🇪 Hanna Falk
 * 🇺🇸 Sophie Caldwell Hamilton
 * 🇫🇮 Laura Mononen
 * 🇫🇮 Susanna Saapunki
 * 🇷🇺 Anna Zherebyateva