"Plausable Range" meaning a level that an athlete could possibly have on their own without the need of a "boost"? A drug readily on the market and accessible to all cyclists?
Maybe that would explain how other riders were able to out distance Armstrong and win many of the TDF stages or at least keep up with him on the stages he did win - which in 2003 and 2005 was only one.
By gosh, that's it - they were ALL doped up!
Now that they've brought down Armstrong, I think it's time they go after Miguel Indurain......
The 50 percent hematocrit criteria as indicating EPO use is not always reliable. One can have a >50% hematocrit due to living at altitude, or due to an asthmatic condition. An easy way to get a >50% value is to live an active lifestyle while living in a place like Leadville, CO (over 10,000 feet elevation).