1980–81 Biathlon World Cup

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.

Calendar
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.

Overall

 * Final standings after 10 races.

Achievements

 * 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, 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, 24, in his 2nd season — the WC 4 Individual in Hedenäset; it also was his first podium


 * First World Cup podium:
 * Viktor Ciunkel — no. 2 in the WC 1 Individual in Jáchymov
 * Jaromír Šimůnek, 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, 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 — no. 2 in the WC 2 Sprint in Antholz-Anterselva
 * Bernd Hellmich, 22, in his 1st season — no. 3 in the WC 2 Sprint in Antholz-Anterselva
 * Peter Angerer, 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, 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, 2 (10) first places
 * 🇳🇴 Eirik Kvalfoss (NOR), 2 (2) first places
 * Anatoly Alyabyev, 1 (2) first place
 * 🇳🇴 Terje Krokstad (NOR), 1 (1) first place
 * 🇳🇴 Kjell Søbak (NOR), 1 (1) first place
 * Vladimir Alikin, 1 (1) first place
 * 🇫🇮 Heikki Ikola (FIN), 1 (1) first place
 * Fritz Fischer, 1 (1) first place

Retirements
Following notable biathletes retired after the 1980–81 season:


 * Eberhard Rösch
 * 🇳🇴 Sigleif Johansen (NOR)