The 1980–81 Biathlon World Cup was a multi-race tournament over a season of biathlon, organised by the UIPMB (Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne et Biathlon). The season started on 15 January 1981 in Jáchymov, Czechoslovakia, and ended on 5 April 1981 in Hedenäset, Sweden. It was the fourth season of the Biathlon World Cup, and it was only held for men.
Below is the World Cup calendar for the 1980–81 season.
*The relays were technically unofficial races as they did not count towards anything in the World Cup.
First World Cup career victory
Terje Krokstad (NOR), 24, in his 4th season — the WC 1 Individual in Jáchymov; first podium was 1978–79 Individual in Jáchymov
Kjell Søbak (NOR), 23, in his 3rd season — the WC 1 Sprint in Jáchymov; first podium was 1978–79 Individual in Sodankylä
Eirik Kvalfoss (NOR), 21, in his 1st season — the WC 2 Individual in Antholz-Anterselva; it also was his first podium
Vladimir Alikin (URS), 23, in his 3rd season — the WC 3 Individual in Ruhpolding; first podium was 1978–79 Individual in Bardufoss
Heikki Ikola (FIN), 33, in his 4th season — the World Championships Individual in Lahti; first podium was 1977–78 Sprint in Sodankylä
Fritz Fischer (FRG), 24, in his 2nd season — the WC 4 Individual in Hedenäset; it also was his first podium
First World Cup podium
Viktor Ciunkel (URS) — no. 2 in the WC 1 Individual in Jáchymov
Jaromír Šimůnek (TCH), 25, in his 4th season — no. 3 in the WC 1 Individual in Jáchymov; it also was the first podium for an Czechoslovakian biathlete
Viktor Avdejev (URS), in his 3rd season — no. 2 in the WC 1 Sprint in Jáchymov
Hans Åhman (SWE), 28, in his 2nd season — no. 3 in the WC 1 Sprint in Jáchymov; it also was the first podium for a Swedishbiathlete
Toivo Mäkikyrö (FIN), 23, in his 1st season — no. 2 in the WC 2 Individual in Antholz-Anterselva
Pjotr Miloradov (URS) — no. 2 in the WC 2 Sprint in Antholz-Anterselva
Bernd Hellmich (GDR), 22, in his 1st season — no. 3 in the WC 2 Sprint in Antholz-Anterselva
Peter Angerer (FRG), 21, in his 2nd season — no. 2 in the WC 3 Sprint in Ruhpolding
Erkki Antila (FIN), 26, in his 4th season — no. 3 in the World Championships Individual in Lahti
Franz Bernreiter (FRG), 27, in his 2nd season — no. 3 in the WC 4 Individual in Hedenäset
Victory in this World Cup (all-time number of victories in parentheses)
Frank Ullrich (GDR), 2 (10) first places
Eirik Kvalfoss (NOR), 2 (2) first places
Anatoly Alyabyev (URS), 1 (2) first places
Terje Krokstad (NOR), 1 (1) first places
Kjell Søbak (NOR), 1 (1) first places
Vladimir Alikin (URS), 1 (1) first places
Heikki Ikola (FIN), 1 (1) first places
Fritz Fischer (FRG), 1 (1) first places
Following notable biathletes retired after the 1980–81 season:
Eberhard Rösch (GDR)
Sigleif Johansen (NOR)
