Schots performed well on the cross country circuit at the start of 1980. He came fourth at the 1980 IAAF World Cross Country Championships and led Belgium to the team bronze medals. He won the European Champion Clubs Cup Cross Country title that year, with R.F.C. Liège beating Sporting Lisbon to the title. An Achilles injury that season again ruled him out of Olympic competition, as he missed the 1980 Moscow Games.