"The elderly cyclists group only needs to finish a 12-kilometer race considering their physical strength," explained Jin Jixian, a staff member of the Pingtan Center for Cross-Straits Worker Exchanges.

Another big change is the race prize. The top 160 winners of each group will share the total prize of 100,000 yuan ($14,535), and the lion's share decreases from 10,000 yuan to 8,000 yuan.

Braving the rain, cyclists from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan compete in the 2016 Cross-Straits Worker's Cycling Race in Pingtan, Fujian province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]