Cyclist Armstrong, singer Crow announce split
The Associated Press
Originally published February 3, 2006, 10:14 PM EST
AUSTIN, Texas // Lance Armstrong and Sheryl Crow have split, the couple announced in a joint statement on Friday.

The seven-time Tour de France champion and the rock star announced their engagement in September. It would have been her first marriage and his second. He has three children from a previous marriage.



"After much thought and consideration we have made a very tough decision to split up. We both have a deep love and respect for each other and we ask that everyone respect our privacy during this very difficult time," the statement said.

Armstrong, 34, recovered from testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs and brain to become the dominant athlete in one of the world's most grueling sporting events.

His seven consecutive Tour de France titles from 1999 to 2005 are a race record. He retired after winning his last race with Crow rooting him on.

Armstrong and the 43-year-old Crow met in October 2003 and began dating shortly after.

Crow called Armstrong the inspiration for her last album, "Wildflower," which was released in September.

Crow talked about being part of a celebrity couple in an interview with The Associated Press in November, saying she wasn't crazy about all the attention that goes with it.

She said celebrity magazines are more interested in seeing a couple break up than reporting on them being happy together.

"When we were rumored to have split, and when our publicists called these magazines to say we haven't split, the magazines were all so disappointed because that's really what's selling, rooting for a couple and then they split," she said. "That's what sells the magazines.

"Why can't we just report things the way they are or see things for the good in them? ... It's an insidious energy."

meltwithu said:

Yet, she KEEPS dating celebrities...

OH THE HUMANITY!!

but on a happier note maybe her next cd wont suck as much.

If they have a deep love and respect for each other why did they split?

I don't care how in LOOOOOVE you are, keep yo punk ass off the tv & outta magazines w/ the love shit until you've actually managed to make it LAST for a number of years!!! When will these public muuufuckas learn?

I always predict doom when people go so public w/ their shit. He was still very active in his career & I'm not sure where she was @ w/ hers (recording? touring? being by his side UNTIL she had to do those things?) but as soon as he said he was retiring I was like, "those bitches are gonna break up"

He's probably restless, unhappy, getting on her damn nerves or vice versa. Their dynamic changed, they had no idea how it was gonna be once he/they weren't so busy & spent more time together... to get on each other's nerves

Don't get me wrong, I hate to see people break up. But I hate it more when they're going public w/ some shit that ain't proven b/c it makes the breakup even harder



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[Edited 2/4/06 5:45am]

i didn't even know they were together

XxAxX said:

Then you're doing something right! Aren't you glad!

CalhounSq said:

well, yes, actually i'm not all tore up over their separation

although, i wish them both well

jlo is still married ya'll


i had nothing to had to the convo

That's ashame; they seemed so happy together. Celebrity relationships seem to be short-lived.

Rhondab said:

J-ho. Don't like her.