DirtyWorks said:Yes, it does. It would give credence to the myth that there was Grand Tour winning potential. The appearance of a team-wide advanced doping is a reasonable conclusion.
As for whether he had talent or not, that's relative. Talented in a pool of U.S. riders? Sure. Talented in a Worldwide pool of clean riders? Maybe one-day events, but not Grand Tour class.
We know with a great deal of confidence. Carmichael and Wenzel were doping under-23's with who knows what during Armstron'g's time on the team. There were lawsuits about it and Carmichael bought his way out every one of them. A good assembly of damning facts is here: http://bikezilla.blogspot.com/2011/05/chris-carmichael-ignored-lance.html
I find it irksome that Wonderboy's past is treated so vaguely and Carmichael isn't drawn into this mess more deeply.
All good points, particularly about Charmichael. I guess my point was that even if LA did break any records as a junior, that doesn't prove that he was not doping either then or in his later career. I have seen that (being a good junior) used as an explanation that he was "so good" back then than that must somehow prove he never would have needed to dope. My response is that it does not prove that at all..
Back on Charmicael, I've just saw that he is now published as some sort of "fitness author" on one of those magazines they stock on the airlines. Apparently he is now respected in the mainstream? It's a shame that a lot of his past is not made widely known in the public sphere..