he did return in 1938 and overcame the teamwork of the belgians, the cold and rain and a puncture on the col de l'iseran. he won the hardest stage, from digne to briançon, by more than five minutes. the radio commentator georges briquet, after he had seen the crowds of italians greeting bartali with green-white-red flags said: "these people had found a superman. outside bartali's hotel at aix-les-bains, an italian general was shouting 'don't touch him – he's a god.'" a public subscription was started in his name in italy, and benito mussolini was among the contributors.