Lance Armstrong and Sheryl Crow to Marry

By: Shannon Gossage

Despite reports of a break-up in May, it appears that the couple is going strong. The seven-time Tour de France champ proposed to the rocker last week in Sun Valley, Idaho while on a mountain biking holiday. She said yes, of course. Armstrong, 33, and Crow, 43, met at a charity event in October 2003 and began dating shortly thereafter. This will be Crow's first trek down the aisle and Armstrong's second. He has three children with his ex-wife. No official details have been released about the wedding, but Armstrong’s rep did say it would probably take place in the spring.

Armstrong recently faced rumors that he had used a "performance enhancing" drug when a French newspaper reported that six of his urine samples taken after the Tour de France contained traces of the banned drug. Armstrong maintains that he has never used the drug. Armstrong announced that he was "officially retired" from the sport after taking home his seventh Tour de France victory this year, but Tuesday alluded to the fact that he may not be ready to retire just yet. Armstrong said in a statement, "While I’m absolutely enjoying my time as a retired athlete with Sheryl and the kids, the recent smear campaign out of France has awoken my competitive side. I’m not willing to put a percentage on the chances, but I will no longer rule it out."

Later this month, Crow will release her fifth album Wildflower. She is set to embark on a "limited" tour of the U.S. and Europe beginning in Seattle on October 16. During an interview in June, Crow said of Armstrong, "I learn so much from Lance’s determination to live life every minute to the fullest. Besides, he’s hot." And in a recent interview she divulged that Armstrong and his three kids were the inspiration behind the title track on her new album. Said Crow, "It’s kind of a reminder, particularly when you look at his young children, how they gravitate to goodness and to light. The idea of the song is that no matter how chaotic it is, wildflowers will still spring up in the middle of nowhere." How sweet, Sheryl!