The seven time champion of the Tour de France spoke out for the first time on a radio show Sirius.
He explained "Obviously, this week was a rough week for us, but that doesn’t change the fact that I think Sheryl is an unbelievable lady, one of the smartest, wisest, most gifted people I’ve ever met and a person that I can honestly say has shown me a love that I never knew. 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 couple had announced their engagement last September.
The radio show that Armstrong spoke at ended with Crow’s song Letter to God.