The 1985–86 FIS Cross-Country World Cup was the 5th official World Cup season in cross-country skiing for men and women. The World Cup began in Labrador City, Canada, on 7 December 1985 and finished in Oslo, Norway, on 15 March 1986. Gunde Svan of Sweden won the overall men's cup, and Marjo Matikainen of Finland won the women's.
Before the season began, after several years of disagreements between athletes and federations concerning what styles of skiing should be allowed, it was decided that cross-country skiing should have two disciplines: classical and freestyle. The initiative to this idea was made by the Swedish skier Thomas Wassberg.[1]
^Trousil, Jaroslav, ed. (February 1986). "4x5 km (volný styl) v Klingenthalu"(PDF). LYŽAŘSTVÍ (in Czech). Czech Ski Association. p. 5. Retrieved 24 March 2020.