Tour de France 2009

Armstrong's "separated at birth" partners

TMZ.com | Lance's Ladies Look Alike

Most of us have noticed the physical similarities between Lance Armstrong's ex-wife, Kristin, and his ex-fiancee, Sheryl Crow.

TMZ.com notes that the pattern continues with Armstrong's latest girlfriend, designer Tory Burch.

TMZ doesn't mention the, um, more Freudian aspect of the story -- Armstrong's mother, Linda Armstrong Kelly.

Armstrong and Crow: We're not back together

contactmusic.com | CROW AND ARMSTRONG SLAM REPORTS THEY'VE REUNITED

Sheryl Crow and Lance Armstrong have gone to some lengths to deny the pair are back together, after Crow stayed in the same hotel in Solvang during a visit with the Discovery Channel squad last week.

Rumor mill was right: Armstrong, Crow split

Statesman.com | Lance and Sheryl are no more

The Austin American-Statesman reports that “a spokesman for Armstrong's agent” confirmed that the pop-singer and the retired 7-time Tour winner have called it quits.

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

Also:

ESPN.com | Armstrong, Crow announce they're breaking up

Crow says wedding plans underway; meanwhile, rumors of a split

People.com | Sheryl Crow Dismisses Fertility Stories

Sheryl Crow told People magazine that she and Lance Armstrong still are planning to get married "next spring", and that the family-only ceremony won't be in Missouri or Texas.

Crow gives a little credence to stories that she and Armstrong are undergoing fertility treatments, saying "there's always a little bit of truth" in tabloid stories.

If I were going to a fertility clinic, I'm sure that I wouldn't be talking with you guys about it.

At the same time, Ted Casablanca's The Awful Truth reports that Armstrong and Crow are splitsville:

"He was a cad," remarked one of Lance's relatives, regarding the seven-time Tour de France winner's reported dumping of glitzy rocker-babe Crow. "And Lance's family is trying to get him to change his mind; that's why [the news] hasn't gotten out yet."

Update 1/10/06 8:30 p.m.:

At Daily Blabber, the blogger reports hearing from Crow's publicist in advance of a scheduled interview:

"Also, I am under very strict direction from management that there can be no questions regarding Lance whatsoever. This must be about her and her music."

Huh? Isn't this album about him? How can I not ask any questions about him? In this case, he is the music. So I said thanks, but no thanks.

There's something about the timing of all of this. For the last two years she's been going on and on about Lance. Yesterday, Ted Casablanca says they're secretly done. Today, she suddenly won't talk about him.

Update 1/10/06 9:50 p.m.:

And, over at the Austin American-Statesman, Suzanne Halliburton says Armstrong has Blackberry'ed the paper a denial of the split:

In an e-mail to the American-Statesman on Tuesday, Armstrong said: "No truth to it at all. Sorry to ruin the story."

Sheryl Crow, Tour groupie

IHT.com | For Crow, the other side of celebrity: Life as a Tour 'groupie'

I generally can either leave or leave Sheryl Crow stories, but I couldn't resist this one, where she talks about what she's learned about the sport, and how she likes it now:

"I'm not sure I've ever met such great young men, with their interesting stories, each and every one of them," she said. "Great people. And there's great healthy competition. To me, it's just a beautiful sport. It's the greatest sport.

"I think the dedication that these guys show on a daily basis, the way they exercise mind over body, drive themselves past the point of pain and experience that kind of anguish - to be part of a successful team is for me a beautiful ballet."

Sing it, sister.

Sheryl Crow ditches Live 8

KBAC-FM | Sheryl Crow Pulls Out of Paris Live 8

Sheryl Crow won't be performing at Live 8 on Saturday in Paris, as originally planned.

She's citing "substantial logistical and personal challenges" for dropping out of the concert at the Palais Versailles.

Crow was expected to perform in France before joining boyfriend Lance Armstrong, who is competing in the Tour De France for the final time.

There's a short statement at SherylCrow.com.

Armstrong looking to settle down with Crow after retirement

Yahoo! Sports | AP Interview: Armstrong considering marriage, more kids after retirement

Looks like there may be more little Armstrongs in the offing, depending on Sheryl Crow's health:

“Yeah. Sheryl and I are very happy. To me, when you have a relationship, you're happy and in love, children are a natural part of the equation,” Armstrong told The Associated Press on Saturday after completing a stage of the Dauphine Libere race. “I'm traditional in that sense.

“I had a marriage that didn't work, but I still believe absolutely in the institution of marriage. I think it's good,” said the 33-year-old Armstrong, who had three kids with his first wife.

Armstrong also reiterated his plan to follow Crow on her tour bus as payback for her involvement in his training and racing.

Dauphiné Stage 2 photo galleries

Armstrong, Bessy, Dumoulin; more @ GrahamWatson.com

Armstrong with Crow, there goes the break from cyclingnews.com

Sheryl Crow a Page 3 girl?

News Of the World | She's got no Crows on!

The long-lens paparazzi scored a coup last week, catching Sheryl Crow topless during a photo shoot in Malibu.

She's in great shape at 43, as everyone could see when she stripped during a photoshoot on a hillside over Malibu on Wednesday.

Seen at ohnotheydidnt.

Sally Jenkins online chat

washingtonpost.com | Tour de France: Future of Lance Armstrong

Sally Jenkins was Lance Armstrong's co-author on both books. She's also covered the Tour de France for the Washington Post, where she did an online chat yesterday concerning Armstrong, doping, the future of US Postal, Sheryl Crow, Armstrong's kids, and what he'll do next year; all topics that have come up right here over the last few weeks. Jenkins (unsurprisingly, I guess) has no kind words for Greg LeMond.

Here's an excerpt on doping:

Crofton, Md.: Don't you think that Lance Armstrong's run in the Tour de France is more about his impact upon the sport because he really believes that "every second"  does count. It is one heck of a motivator to be told you have the big "C" and your chances to become immortal are really tied to a defining memorable event as opposed to anything else. That is precisely why I do not believe that he uses any drugs - he is afraid of that image being tarnished. Do you agree? - CSP

Sally Jenkins: He once told me, two years out from chemotherapy, how poisoned the cancer and the chemo made him feel, and that he was just starting to feel "clean again." I've never forgotten that, and how seriously he said it. For that reason it's very hard for me to believe he'd put anything dangerous in his body. I've said it before and I'll say it again:
I believe in Lance Armstrong as a man and as an athlete. He beat cancer straight up, fair and square, and I believe he has won six Tours exactly the same way.
Also, I love him as a friend.