He was a climber, and won his first professional race in a mountain stage of Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré.

He won the Mountains Classification in Vuelta a España four times, one short of the record of five held by José Luis Laguía.

[2][3][4] The magazine Vélo said he had a "calm and a lucidity, a way of talking openly, something too of a rage hidden behind a smile, for him, a little painful.

[2][3] François Migraine of Cofidis said: "Everyone is more or less unanimous that David Moncoutié doesn't dabble [in drugs].

[8] His team-mates have joked that while they are eager to try the latest and lightest equipment, Moncoutié would be happy riding on wooden wheels.

The following Tour de France he won the stage from Briançon to Digne-les-Bains on Bastille Day, guaranteeing him a place in the hearts of French fans.

"[10] For the next twelve years, no French rider was able to repeat the feat of winning a Tour de France stage on the Bastille Day, until Warren Barguil did so in 2017.

He won the 2010 Vuelta a España stage 8 in a mountaintop finishing in Xorret de Catí that included five mountain passes.