The much anticipated wedding of Lance Armstrong and Sheryl Crow is officially off.
The couple, who released a joint statement through Armstrong’s spokesman to PEOPLE, are calling it quits after two years of dating and an engagement that lasted a little over four months.
"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.
Rumors of trouble began surfacing around Christmas, but the couple insisted there was no truth to them and that they were moving forward with wedding plans for this spring.
Crow recently tried on wedding gowns, including a Vera Wang with what she said was “a particularly absurd amount of meringue,” for a photo shoot for Allure magazine and told reporters that she would be marrying her cyclist boyfriend in Austin.
Armstrong, 34, a Texan and Crow, 43, born in Missouri, shared a ranch in Austin and were said to be planning to live there together after their wedding.
The couple met at a charity event in October 2003 and began dating a short time later.
"I knew pretty quickly that I was totally into him,” Crow told PEOPLE in November.
Armstrong proposed to her in Sun Valley, Idaho, in late August in a proposal Crow called “very romantic.”
this one neither surprises me nor disappoints me. they didn't look like they had spark, more like respect and friendship, maybe it's Lance...he doesn't seem like a very lovey guy to me anyway. now I hope Sheryl Crow ends up with somebody cool, I have always liked her, I just liked her a lot less with Lance for whatever reason.
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Geez, do any celebrity relationships last? It seems like someone is breaking up every day. I literally just got my new issue of Allure yesterday, with Sheryl on the cover. In her interview she talked a lot about her past relationships and how much she loves Lance.
MissMee wrote: Wasn't that the same statement Pitt-Aniston made? I was gonna ask if it was the same statement Simpson-Lachey made. They must all use some sort of form letter or something.
ha! it wouldn't surprise me if publicists had a form letter for break ups that they keep on file. i imagine with certain clients, it would be annoying to have to keep coming up with new phrasing all the time.
the break up does make me sad. mainly b/c i just read the article in allure and she seemed so happy.