Starts to ponder over stimulating Elgar -- real Toughie (5)

I believe the answer is:

poser

'toughie' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'starts to ponder over stimulating elgar real' is the wordplay.
'starts to' indicates taking the first letters.
The first letters of 'ponder over stimulating elgar real' is 'POSER'.

(Other definitions for poser that I've seen before include "Problem set by the model" , "Ropes (anag.)" , "Tricky question" , "Toughie" , "Question - a sitter" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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