The 2016 Cross-Straits Worker's Cycling Race?opens in the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, Fujian province on April 24. [Photo/ptnet.cn]

The 2016 Cross-Straits Worker's Cycling Race?kicked off?in the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone (PCPZ), Fujian province on April 24, ptnet.cn reported.

This?was the third year of the race, echoing President Xi Jinping's call for increasing cross-Straits?sports communication.

Braving the rain, cyclists from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan compete in the 2016 Cross-Straits Worker's Cycling Race in Pingtan, Fujian, on April 24. [Photo/ptnet.cn]

With the theme of "Sharing Benefits for Workers, Building a Common Homeland", the day-long event attracted around 600 participants, half of whom came from Taiwan.

In addition to the cyclists, half of the 60 judges were also from Taiwan.

The main venue of the event remains to be the Haiyu Plaza. The participants were divided into four groups – men's junior mountain, men's senior mountain, women's mountain and road.

Some participants of the 2016 Cross-Straits Worker's Cycling Race pose for a group photo in Pingtan, Fujian province, April 24. [Photo/ptnet.cn]

Winners of each group got bonuses and the maximum amount reached 10,000 yuan ($1,545), according to the organizers.

The event?is of great significance in enhancing cross-Straits communications, added the organizers.

The organizers included the Fujian Federation of Labor, PCPZ's administrative committee, Cross-Straits Labor Relations Development Association, and Taiwan Association of Commerce and Industry Promotion.