"I passed some men and I was super proud to see that they were really suffering and that I was passing them."
The self-realization on those slopes shaped her trajectory toward professional cycling.
"That's where I really found out I was a pretty good climber because against all the other girls I trained with, I was always the first at the top," said Vollering regarding her performance on Ventoux.
"And the coaches who came with us – I left them all behind too. I could see that my level was pretty good."
Her mental resilience proved just as pivotal as her physiological capacity on sustained ascents.
"Mentally too, I was able to suffer, maybe more than average people on that mountain," said Vollering.
"I saw that riding uphill was my strength and suited me as the type of athlete I am.
The Ventoux inspired me a lot."
Looking ahead to future editions, Vollering expressed enthusiasm for the race's planned route expansion.
"I follow some British football teams and they're amazing," said Vollering regarding the race visiting Britain in a year's time.
"They are really inspiring people to watch. So, it's cool to see."
Beyond competitive results, Vollering noted broader demographic shifts in spectatorship across international races.
"I think probably it's still mostly men who follow our sport, but I feel like it's changing slowly, especially with women's sport growing more," said Vollering.
"You see more women turning up at our races, more children, more families who come to watch and to support.
