with the odds stacked against him, armstrong's opposition took themselves out of contention till tehre was only one, Ullrich.
To race for GC first you have to finish. Leipheimer, Beloki, Simoni all took themselves out, either via over optimistic ambitions like riding too many races or the pressure of finishing high up every day.
What if?........... is a bad question. Speculation does nothing but serve to diminish the accomplishment sof those who are creating the history.