The 1981 IAAF World Race Walking Cup was held on 3 and 4 October 1981 in the streets of Valencia, Spain. The event was also known as IAAF Race Walking World Cup.
Complete results were published.
The team rankings, named Lugano Trophy, combined the 20km and 50km events team results.
The participation of 160 athletes (111 men/49 women) from 18 countries is reported.
From 1961 to 1985 there were qualifying rounds for the men's competition with the first two winners proceeding to the final. This year, México, the Soviet Union, the German Democratic Republic, Italy, Spain, the United States, Australia, Canada, and China proceeded directly to the final.
Saint-Aubin-lès-Elbeuf, France, September 5/6
Helsinki, Finland, August 29/30