[1] The event, with half distance classic skiing and half distance skate skiing, was won by Alexander Bolshunov, for whom this is the first Olympic gold medal.

The 2018 champion is Simen Hegstad Krüger who qualified for the Olympics but tested positive for COVID-19 just before the games.

Even though he had no symptoms, he was not allowed to fly to China with the rest of the team and did not get a chance to defend the title.

Bolshunov is the 2021 World Champion in 30 kilometre skiathlon, with Krüger and Holund being the silver and the bronze medalist, respectively.

Before the pit stop, Bolshunov and Niskanen ran away, followed by Spitsov, Holund and Pål Golberg.